Base-induced ring cleavage of 4-functionalized-3-unsubstituted isoxazoles. Synthesis of 5-aminoazoles and 4-cyanoazoles

The base-induced ring cleavage of 4-nitro-(Ia), 4-ethoxycarbonyl- (Ib) and 4-acetyl-5-methylisoxazole (Ic) and the conversion of the resulting β-cyanoenolates and β-enaminonitriles into 5-aminoazoles and 4-cyanoazoles was studied.     

Stereocontrolled Conversion of 3-Unsubstituted Isoxazole Compounds into Z-β-Siloxyacrylonitriles. A New Method for the Regioselective Synthesis of β-Enaminoketones

The stereoselective synthesis of Z-β-siloxyacrylonitriles via base-induced ring cleavage of isoxazole precursors is described. Z-β-siloxyacrylonitriles react with organolithium compounds to give high yields of β-enaminoketones 1.     

Integral equation formulation for buoyancy-driven convection problems

An integral equation formulation for buoyancy-driven convection problems is developed and illustrated. Buoyancy-driven convection in a bounded cylindrical geometry with a free surface is studied for a range of aspect ratios and Nusselt numbers. The critical Rayleigh number, the nature of the cellular motion, and the heat transfer enhancement are computed using linear theory. Green's functions are used to convert the linear problem into linear Fredholm integral equations. Theorems are proved which establish the properties of the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of the linear integral operator which appears in these equations.     

Structural and Functional Implications of the Interaction between Macrolide Antibiotics and Bile Acids

Macrolide antibiotics, such as azithromycin and erythromycin, are in widespread use for the treatment of bacterial infections. Macrolides are taken up and excreted mainly by bile. Additionally, they have been implicated in biliary system diseases and to modify the excretion of other drugs through bile. Despite mounting evidence for the interplay between macrolide antibiotics and bile acids, the molecular details of this interaction remain unknown. Herein, we show by NMR measurements that macrolides directly bind to bile acid micelles. The topology of this interaction has been determined by solvent paramagnetic relaxation enhancements (solvent PREs). The macrolides were found to be bound close to the surface of the micelle. Increasing hydrophobicity of both the macrolide and the bile acid strengthen this interaction. Both bile acid and macrolide molecules show similar solvent PREs across their whole structures, indicating that there are no preferred orientations of them in the bile micelle aggregates. The binding to bile aggregates does not impede macrolide antibiotics from targeting bacteria. In fact, the toxicity of azithromycin towards enterotoxic E. coli (ETEC) is even slightly increased in the presence of bile, as was shown by effective concentration (EC₅₀) values.     

One-pot multicoupling reaction of silylcopper reagents, organolithium compounds and α,β-unsaturated nitriles

The silylcupration of allene using a lower order silylcopper species gives an allylsilane-vinyl copper intermediate 2 which, in conjunction with an organolithium reagent, is able to participate in a one-pot multicoupling reaction with α,β-unsaturated nitriles. The scope of this tandem reaction is studied and a possible mechanism pathway is outlined.