Sodium Tetrafluoroborate as a New and Highly Efficient Catalyst for One‐Pot Synthesis of 3,4‐Dihydropyrimidin‐2(1H)‐Ones and Thiones

Sodium tetrafluoroborate (NaBF₄) is found to catalyze the three component condensation of an aldehyde, 1,3‐dicarbonyl compound and urea or thiourea to afford the corresponding 3,4‐dihydropyrimidin‐2(1 H)‐ones and thiones in high yields. This method is very useful for the synthesis of a wide range of 3,4‐dihydropyrimidin‐2(1 H)‐ones and thiones from aromatic, heterocyclic, α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes and aliphatic aldehydes.     

Total Synthesis of Pulchellalactam via an RCM Strategy

Total synthesis of (Z) pulchellalactam, a CD protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, from commercially available methallyl chloride employing ring‐closure metathesis (RCM) as a key step is described.     

Formal synthesis of (±)-camptothecin via tricyclic lactone as key synthon

Formal synthesis of (±)-camptothecin via CDE tricyclic lactone employing tandem Michael addition, Dieckmann condensation and addition-elimination reaction as key steps starting from glycinate is described.     

A facile total synthesis of (±)-α-cuparenone employing diallylation and RCM as key steps

A short and concise total synthesis of α-cuparenone employing one-pot diallylation and RCM as the key steps is described.     

Fluoroboric acid adsorbed on silica gel catalyzed regioselective ring opening of epoxides with nitrogen heterocycles

Aryl epoxides can be opened in a regioselective and efficient manner with nitrogen heterocycles such as indoles, pyrroles and imidazoles in the presence of a catalytic amount of HBF₄-SiO₂ under mild conditions to afford the corresponding C-alkylated derivatives in good yields and with a high regioselectivity.     

Electrochemical Assay to Detect Influenza Viruses and Measure Drug Susceptibility

An electrochemical assay has been designed to rapidly diagnose influenza viruses. Exposure of a glucose‐bearing substrate to influenza viruses or its enzyme, neuraminidase (NA), releases glucose, which was detected amperometrically. Two methods were used to detect released glucose. First, we used a standard glucose blood meter to detect two viral NAs and three influenza strains. We also demonstrated drug susceptibility of two antivirals, Zanamivir and Oseltamivir, using the assay. Finally, we used disposable test strips to detect nineteen H1N1 and H3N2 influenza strains using this assay in one hour. The limit and range of detection of this first generation assay is 10² and 10²–10⁸ plaque forming units (pfu), respectively. Current user‐friendly glucose meters can be repurposed to detect influenza viruses.