The incidence of myelodysplastic syndromes in Western Greece is increasing.

Descriptive epidemiology of the myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) is always interesting and may reveal time-dependent and geographical variations, as well as occupational exposure. Epidemiological data in Greece are not available by now. We have collected and analyzed medical records of all patients with a documented diagnosis of MDS, performed by an expert hematologist and/or hematopathologist, in the geographical area of Western Greece, during the 20-year period, defined between 1990 and 2009.

Cyclization of 1,6-enynes catalyzed by gold nanoparticles supported on TiO2: significant changes in selectivity and mechanism, as compared to homogeneous Au-catalysis.

Gold nanoparticles supported on TiO(2) (1.2 mol %) catalyze, for the first time under heterogeneous conditions, the cycloisomerization of a series of 1,6-enynes in high yields. In several cases, the product selectivity differs significantly as compared to homogeneous Au(I)-catalysis.

Acid-catalyzed cyclization of terpenes under homogeneous and heterogeneous conditions as probed through stereoisotopic studies: a concerted process with competing preorganized chair and boat transition states.

Based on stereoisotopic studies and beta-secondary isotope effects, we propose that the acid-catalyzed cyclization of geranyl acetate proceeds through a concerted mechanism. Under heterogeneous conditions (zeolite Y confinement), a preorganized chairlike transition state predominates, whereas under homogeneous conditions the boat- and chairlike transition states are almost isoenergetic. For the case of farnesyl acetate, we propose that under homogeneous conditions a concerted dicyclization occurs with a preorganized boat-chair transition state competing with the chair-chair transition state.

Divergent synthesis of the co-isolated mycotoxins longianone, isopatulin, and (Z)-ascladiol via furan oxidation.

Longianone and the biosynthetically related mycotoxins isopatulin and (Z)-ascladiol were prepared following a divergent route from a readily available furan diol. The route toward longianone features an unprecedented TBAF-promoted intramolecular oxa-Michael reaction to a conjugated keto enoate, and the oxidation of dihydrolongianone to longianone with stabilized IBX. The route to isopatulin features a chemoenzymatic synthesis of (Z)-ascladiol, and the regioselective oxidation of (Z)-ascladiol to isopatulin with MnO(2).

Selective isomerization of epoxides to allylic alcohols catalyzed by TiO2-supported gold nanoparticles.

ReacTiO(2)ns for rings: Gold nanoparticles supported on TiO(2) are used as a novel heterogeneous catalyst for the isomerization of epoxides to allylic alcohols by a concerted mechanism (see scheme). The reaction proceeds in high yields and the product selectivity is often remarkable.

Selective monocyclization of epoxy terpenoids promoted by zeolite NaY. A short biomimetic synthesis of elegansidiol and farnesiferols B-D.

Epoxy terpenes cyclize readily, by confinement within zeolite NaY, to form exomethylenic cyclohexanols as the major products. The selective monocyclization of 10,11-epoxyfarnesyl acetate within NaY provides a short and efficient biomimetic route to (+/-)-elengasidiol and (+/-)-farnesiferols B-D. [reaction: see text].