Divergent copper-catalyzed syntheses of 3-carboxylpyrroles and 3-cyanofurans from -acetyl oximes and β-ketoesters/nitriles.

The reaction between -acetyl oximes and β-ketoesters/nitriles catalyzed by copper generated polysubstituted pyrroles and furans, respectively, under redox-neutral reaction conditions. Using this protocol, pyrroles or furans could be obtained simply by choosing an appropriate active methylene compound. Although both transformations occur essentially under the same reaction conditions, control experiments indicated that they follow different mechanistic pathways.

Total syntheses and antiproliferative activities of prenostodione and its analogues.

A high-yielding total synthesis of the indole alkaloid prenostodione was completed in 4 steps and 44% overall yield from 1-indole-3-carboxylic acid. The expedient syntheses of prenostodiones containing distinct substituents at the position of the phenyl frame underscored the scope of this methodology. The cytotoxic activities of the -butyl esters of prenostodione analogues were tested using six tumor cell lines.

Synthesis and antituberculosis activity of new acylthiosemicarbazides designed by structural modification.

Acylthiosemicarbazides 8a-n were designed by structural modification of lead Compound 7. The syntheses of 8a-n involve a five-step procedure starting from carboxylic acids. Compounds 8a-n were tested against three Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains to measure their inhibitory antituberculosis activities.