Stereoselective total synthesis of (+)-polyrhacitide A

A facile stereoselective total synthesis of secondary metabolite (+)-polyrhacitide A is described. Stereoselective aldol reaction, Horner-Wardsworth-Emmons reaction, Evans acetal intramolecular oxa-Michael reaction and diastereoselective syn reduction reaction are the key steps involved in the target synthesis.     

Energetic nitrogen-rich salts and ionic liquids

Energetic salts offer many advantages over conventional energetic molecular compounds. The use of nitrogen containing anions and cations contributes to high heats of formations and high densities. Their low carbon and hydrogen content gives rise to a good oxygen balance. The decomposition of these compounds is predominantly through the generation of dinitrogen which makes them very promising candidates for highly energetic materials for industrial or military applications.     

First stereoselective total synthesis of (+)-dodoneine

The first stereoselective total synthesis of the natural product (+)-dodoneine is described involving a Crimmins aldol reaction and a Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons olefination as the key steps.     

Chemical Synthesis and Immunological Evaluation of a Pentasaccharide Bearing Multiple Rare Sugars as a Potential Anti‐pertussis Vaccine

With the infection rate of Bordetella pertussis at a 60‐year high, there is an urgent need for new anti‐pertussis vaccines. The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of B. pertussis is an attractive antigen for vaccine development. With the presence of multiple rare sugars and unusual glycosyl linkages, the B. pertussis LPS is a highly challenging synthetic target. In this work, aided by molecular dynamics simulation and modeling, a pertussis‐LPS‐like pentasaccharide was chemically synthesized for the first time. The pentasaccharide was conjugated with a powerful carrier, bacteriophage Qβ, as a vaccine candidate. Immunization of mice with the conjugate induced robust anti‐glycan IgG responses with IgG titers reaching several million enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) units. The antibodies generated were long lasting and boostable and could recognize multiple clinical strains of B. pertussis, highlighting the potential of Qβ‐glycan as a new anti‐pertussis vaccine.     

Cu-mediated 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with dipolarophiles: a faster access to spirooxindoles of potential pharmacological interest

CuI facilitated three-component reaction of isatin derivatives, l-proline and terminal alkynes containing an amide or ester functional group. The multi-component reaction (MCR) afforded a faster and practical synthesis of spirooxindole derivatives. A range of novel spirooxindoles were synthesized by using this straightforward and one-pot efficient methodology. A representative compound showed significant inhibition of PDE4B enzyme in vitro and good interactions with this protein in silico.