Total synthesis of the marine natural product (-)-clavosolide A. A showcase for the Petasis-Ferrier union/rearrangement tactic

[Structure: see text] The total synthesis of the marine diolide (-)-clavosolide A has been achieved in 17 steps (longest linear sequence) from commercially available crotonaldehyde exploiting the Petasis-Ferrier union/rearrangement tactic to construct the requisite aglycon monomer. A one-pot esterification/lactonization employing the Yamaguchi protocol, followed by bis-glycosidation, furnished (-)-clavosolide A.     

A new modular indole synthesis. Construction of the highly strained CDEF parent tetracycle of nodulisporic acids A and B

[reaction: see text] Construction of the highly strained CDEF parent tetracycle, a structural motif found only in the potent ectoparasiticidal agents (+)-nodulisporic acids A and B and related congeners, has been achieved via a new modular indole synthesis, exploiting a sequential Stille cross-coupling/Buchwald-Hartwig union/cyclization tactic. The new indole synthesis holds the promise of rapid assembly of diverse, highly substituted indoles possessing uncommon substitution patterns.     

Indole diterpenoid synthetic studies. Construction of the heptacyclic core of (-)-nodulisporic acid D

[structure: see text] Construction of the heptacyclic core of (-)-nodulisporic acid D, a representative member of a recently discovered class of architecturally complex, ectoparasiticidal indole alkaloids, has been achieved. The modular synthetic strategy comprises an expedient, stereocontrolled synthesis of a tricyclic western hemisphere, in conjunction with union of an eastern hemisphere, exploiting the 2-substituted indole synthetic protocol introduced and developed in our laboratory.     

Single-nucleotide-specific PNA-peptide ligation on synthetic and PCR DNA templates

DNA-directed chemical synthesis has matured into a useful tool with applications such as fabrication of defined (nano)molecular architectures, evolution of amplifiable small-molecule libraries, and nucleic acid detection. Most commonly, chemical methods were used to join oligonucleotides under the control of a DNA or RNA template. The full potential of chemical ligation reactions can be uncovered when nonnatural oligonucleotide analogues that can provide new opportunities such as increased stability, DNA affinity, hybridization selectivity, and/or ease and accuracy of detection are employed. It is shown that peptide nucleic acid (PNA) conjugates, nonionic biostable DNA analogues, allowed the fashioning of highly chemoselective and sequence-selective peptide ligation methods. In particular, PNA-mediated native chemical ligations proceed with sequence selectivities and ligation rates that reach those of ligase-catalyzed oligodeoxynucleotide reactions. Usually, sequence-specific ligations can only be achieved by employing short-length probes, which show DNA affinities that are too low to allow stable binding to target segments in large, double-stranded DNA. It is demonstrated that the PNA-based ligation chemistry allowed the development of a homogeneous system in which rapid single-base mutation analyses can be performed even on double-stranded PCR DNA templates.     

Total synthesis of (-)-aplaminal

The total synthesis and assignment of absolute configuration of (-)-aplaminal ( 1), a cytotoxic metabolite from a sea hare possessing a triazobicyclo[3.2.1]octane skeleton, has been achieved. The synthesis entailed condensation of a monoprotected diamine ( 3) with dimethyl 2-oxomalonate ( 4) to generate the imidazolidine core ( 2). Introduction of the third nitrogen via Mitsunobu activation and azide displacement, followed by reduction and lactam formation (AlMe 3), furnished (-)-aplaminal ( 1). Overall, the synthesis entailed 9 steps and proceeded in 19% overall yield.     

The use of symmetry in direct Møller-Plesset second-order calculations

Summary An algorithm for utilising abelian point group symmetry in direct MP2 energy calculations is presented. This is based upon the direct MP2 method of Head-Gordon, Pople and Frisch. The method uses the petite atomic orbital integral list as in conventional transformations coupled with a symmetry adaption of the three quarter transformed integrals. Representative calculations for ethylene and benzene are presented which demonstrate the potential of the method.     

Convenient One‐Pot Synthesis of Sulfonamides from Thiols using Trichloroisocyanuric Acid

A convenient synthesis of sulfonamides from thiols is described. In situ preparation of sulfonyl chlorides from thiols is accomplished by oxidation with trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA), benzyltrimethylammonium chloride and water (2.5 equiv). The sulfonyl chlorides are then further allowed to react with excess amine in the same reaction vessel. Triethylamine can be optionally added as acid scavenger.     

The role of CuI in the siloxane-mediated Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of aryl iodides with aryl lithium reagents

Experiments indicate that a catalytic amount of Cul plays an important role in the siloxane-mediated Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions with the direct use of organolithium reagents.Addition of organolithium to the siloxane transfer agent generates an organosilicon intermediate.DFT calculations indicate that Cul initially accelerates the Si-Pd(Ⅱ) transmetalation of the organosilicon intermediate by the formation of CuI₂^-.Subsequently,CuI₂^-works as a shuttle between the Si-Cu(Ⅰ) and Cu(Ⅰ)-Pd(Ⅱ)transmetalation processes.     

Effects of Enzymatic Pretreatment of Seeds on the Physicochemical Properties,Bioactive Compounds,and Antioxidant Activity of Pomegranate Seed Oil

Enzymatic pretreatment of seeds is a novel approach that enhances the health benefits of the extracted oil. The study investigated the influence of the enzymatic pretreatment of seeds on the quality of oil from different pomegranate cultivars. The quality of the ultrasound-assisted (and ethanol-extracted) oil was studied, with respect to the refractive index (RI), yellowness index (YI), conjugated dienes (K232), peroxide value (PV) ρ-anisidine value (AV), total oxidation value (TOTOX), total carotenoid content (TCC), total phenolic compounds (TPC), fatty acid composition, phytosterol composition, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and 2.2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging capacity. The seeds of three different pomegranate cultivars (‘Wonderful’, ‘Herskawitz’, and ‘Acco’) were digested with an equal mixture of Pectinex Ultra SPL, Flavourzyme 100 L, and cellulase crude enzymes, at a concentration, pH, temperature, and time of 1.7%, 4.5, 40 °C, and 5 h, respectively. Enzymatic pretreatment of PS increased oil yield, PV, TPC, TCC, and DPPH radical scavenging capacity, but decreased the YI. The levels of K232, AV and TOTOX, fatty acids, phytosterols, RI, and FRAP, were not significantly affected by enzymatic pretreatment of PS. Principal component analysis (PCA) established that oil extracted from the ‘Acco’ seed after enzymatic pretreatment had higher yield, TPC, TCC, and DPPH radical scavenging capacity. Therefore, enzyme-pretreated ‘Acco’ pomegranate fruit seed is a source of quality seed oil with excellent antioxidant properties.     

Time Frequency Representations of Almost Periodic Functions

In this paper, we characterize the space of almost periodic (AP) functions in one variable using either a Weyl–Heisenberg (WH) system or an affine system. Our observation is that the sought-for characterization of the AP space is valid if and only if the given WH (respectively, affine) system is an L ₂(ℝ)-frame. Moreover, the frame bounds of the system are also the sharpest bounds in our characterization. This draws an intriguing and quite unexpected connection between L ₂(ℝ) representations and AP-representations.