Diels-Alder reaction of optically active (E)-γ-keto-α,β-unsaturated p-tolylsulfoxides with cyclopentadiene

The Diels-Alder reaction of enantiomerically pure (E)-γ-keto-α,β-unsaturated p-tolylsulphoxides 3 with cyclopentadiene give four easily separable diastereomers. The effect of several Lewis acids on the reaction was studied, finding a high endo selectivity with respect to the carbonyl group and moderate π-diastereoselectivity using BF₃·Et₂O as catalyst. The reactivity of compounds 3 as well as their endo selectivity are both higher than those observed for the corresponding (E)-3-sulfinylacrylates.     

A study for quality evaluation of Taxilli Herba from different hosts based on fingerprint-activity relationship modeling and multivariate statistical analysis

In this study, a fingerprint-activity relationship modeling between chemical fingerprints and antirheumatic activity was established, and multivariate statistical analysis was used to evaluate the quality of Taxilli Herba (TH) from different hosts. Characteristic fingerprints of 20 batches of TH samples were generated by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole-time of flight tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-Triple TOF-MS/MS), and the similarity analysis was calculated based on thirteen common characteristic peaks by hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA). Subsequently, nine efficacy markers were discovered by combining fingerprints and antirheumatic activity through grey correlation analysis (GCA) and bivariate correlation analysis (BCA). Meanwhile, the content of 5 constituents in 9 markers was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole-linear ion trap tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-QTRAP-MS/MS). The comprehensive quality of TH was assessed using multivariate statistical analysis, including principal components analysis (PCA) and technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS). The results showed that a high dose of TH extract could markedly ameliorate arthritis damage compared to other doses, with flavonoids playing an important role in the antirheumatic activity. The comprehensive quality of samples from Morus alba L. (SS) was superior to those from Liquidambar formosana Hance (FXS). The present study will demonstrate the markers associated with efficacy, and provide an applicable strategy for more comprehensive quality control and evaluation of TH.     

Conjugate base catalysed one-pot synthesis of pyrazoles from β-formyl enamides

A novel one-pot synthesis of pyrazoles has been accomplished by the reaction of β-formyl enamides with hydroxylamine hydrochloride catalysed by potassium dihydrogenphosphate in acid medium.     

The first example of Diels-Alder cycloaddition of ortho-xylylenes to meso-tetraarylporphyrins containing electron-deficient β,β-double bonds

β-Nitro-5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin and its zinc complex, or 2,7-dinitro-5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin, react with 1,3-dihydrobenzo[c]thiophene 2,2-dioxide in refluxing 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene, giving rise to chlorins, bacteriochlorins or isobacteriochlorins. The products obtained are attractive intermediates for further functionalization of porphyrins and may be of potential use as sensitizers in photodynamic therapy.     

Extraction and coordination studies of carbamoyl methyl sulfoxide (CMSO) with uranyl bis(β-diketonates). Synthesis and molecular structure of [{UO2(DBM)2}2C6H5CH2SOCH2CONHC6H5]

The carbamoyl methyl sulfoxide compounds of uranyl bis(β-diketonate) of the types [UO₂(DBM)₂CMSO] and [{UO₂(DBM)₂}₂CMSO] (where HDBM = C₆H₅COCH₂COC₆H₅; CMSO = C₆H₅CH₂SOCH₂CONHC₆H₅ or C₆H₅SOCH₂CONⁱPr₂) have been synthesized and characterized by IR and NMR spectroscopic techniques and elemental analysis. Spectral studies show that CMSO acts as a monodentate ligand in [UO₂(DBM)₂CMSO] compounds and bonds through the sulfoxo oxygen atom to the uranyl group. It acts as a bridging bidentate ligand in [{UO₂(DBM)₂}₂CMSO] compounds and bonds through both the sulfoxo and carbamoyl oxygen atoms to two different uranyl groups. The structure of the compound [{UO₂(DBM)₂}₂C₆H₅CH₂SOCH₂CONHC₆H₅] confirms the bridging bidentate mode of coordination for the CMSO ligand. Extraction studies show an enhancement in solvent extraction for the uranyl ion from nitric acid medium when a mixture of thenoyl trifluoroacetone (HTTA) and CMSO was employed.     

The extraction,antioxidant and against β-amyloid induced toxicity of polyphenols from Alsophila spinulosa leaves

Alsophila spinulosa is a tree-like fern, and many evidences suggested that plant polyphenols had the potential therapeutic for Alzheimer s disease (AD). Herein, polyphenols (ASP) was isolated from A. spinulosa leaves and its major constituent were isoorientin and vitexin. ASP displayed excellent antioxidant activity and obvious anti-lipid peroxidation capacity in vitro. ASP improved the survival rate of C. elegans under high temperature by enhancing the antioxidant enzymes activities and decreasing the lipid peroxidation level. Moreover, ASP alleviated β-amyloid (Aβ) induced paralysis and reduced Aβ deposition, decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and improved the level of skn-1 mRNA. In addition, ASP decreased the levels of pdk-1 and akt-1 mRNA in P13K/AKT signaling pathway. In conclusion, ASP may be a potential ingredient for the alleviation of AD.     

Some aspects for sintering of β-rhombohedral boron

The investigation of sintering conditions for magnesiothermic amorphous boron (Mg_mB_n) powder is presented. The results of chemical and X-ray analyses of magnesiothermic boron (Mg_mB_n) indicate that it consists of amorphous boron MgB₁₂ and a lesser amount of β-rhombohedral boron. The Mg_mB_n-sintering process is determined by the conditions of amorphous boron transformation into β-boron (crystallization), such as the process of decomposition of MgB₁₂ followed by formation of the “new” centers of active elementary boron. As a result of the experimental investigations of this process the following three stages—thermal decompositions, crystallization and Mg_mB_n sintering—were combined into one sintering process with the sintered bodies as a result of it.     

Synthesis of chiral β-3-amino-2-hydroxyalkanoates and 3-alkyl-3-hydroxy-β-lactams by double asymmetric induction

Reactions of chiral (2S)-enolates of dioxolan-4-ones, derived from lactic, mandelic, and phenyllactic acids, with aliphatic (S_S)- and (S_R)-tert-butylsulfinyl aldimines afforded conformationally restrained C2-disubstituted N,O-orthogonally protected 3-amino-2-hydroxyalkanoates in the form of N-sulfinyl protected 1′-aminodioxolan-4-ones. The product distribution showed that there is significant kinetic selectivity, due to the presence of ‘matched’ and ‘mismatched’ components, between the (S)- or (R)-tert-butylsulfinyl aldimines and the (2S)-enolates of the 1,3-dioxolan-4-ones. Selective methoxide-induced removal of the acetal group of the N-sulfinyl-1′-aminodioxolanones yielded the corresponding N-sulfinyl protected methyl alkanoates. In addition, the selective acid-induced removal of the sulfinyl group of the N-sulfinyl-1′-aminodioxolanones provided the corresponding N-unprotected 1′-aminodioxolanones, whose base-induced cyclization afforded the corresponding β-lactams.     

Trifluoromethyl- and difluoromethyl-β-lactams as useful building blocks for the synthesis of fluorinated amino acids, dipeptides, and fluoro-taxoids

Enantiopure 1-acyl-3-hydroxyl-4-CF₂H-azetidin-2-ones and 1-acyl-3-hydroxy-4-CF₃-azetidin-2-ones serve as versatile intermediates for the syntheses of CF₂- and CF₃-containing α-hydroxy-β-amino acids, dipeptides, and taxoid anticancer agents. Both enantiomers of 3-hydroxy-4-CF₂H-β-lactams can be obtained in high yields through the diethylaminosulfur trifluoride (DAST) reaction of the corresponding enantiopure 4-formyl-β-lactam that is prepared through [2+2] cycloaddition of acetoxyketene to a 3-methyl-2-butenaldimine, followed by enzymatic optical resolution and ozonolysis. (+)-3-Hydroxy-4-CF₃-β-lactams and (−)-3-hydroxy-4-CF₃-β-lactams can also be readily obtained in enantiopure form through [2+2] cycloaddition of a CF₃-imine with a ketene, followed by enzymatic optical resolution. Practical processes for the preparations of these enantiopure 3-hydroxy-4-R_f-β-lactams as well as their synthetic applications are described.     

Reaction of a 5α-bromo-6β,19-epoxysteroid with BF3·Et2O/Ac2O: An evidence of a cyclic bromonium cation

Treatment of 3β-acetoxy-5-bromo-6β,19-epoxy-5α-androstan-17-one with Ac₂O and BF₃·OEt₂, produced the cleavage of the epoxy moiety and migration of the bromine atom to afford 3β,19-diacetoxy-6α-bromo-5-hydroxy-5β-androst-17-one in high yield.