Tools and Methods for Investigating Synthetic Metal-Catalyzed Reactions in Living Cells.

Although abiotic catalysts are capable of promoting numerous new-to-nature reactions, only a small subset has so far been successfully integrated into living systems. Research in intracellular catalysis requires an interdisciplinary approach that takes advantage of both chemical and biological tools as well as state-of-the-art instrumentations. In this perspective, we will focus on the techniques that have made studying metal-catalyzed reactions in cells possible using representative examples from the literature.

Scope and Limitations of Reductive Amination Catalyzed by Half-Sandwich Iridium Complexes Under Mild Reaction Conditions.

The conversion of aldehydes and ketones to 1° amines could be promoted by half-sandwich iridium complexes using ammonium formate as both the nitrogen and hydride source. To optimize this method for green chemical synthesis, we tested various carbonyl substrates in common polar solvents at physiological temperature (37 °C) and ambient pressure. We found that in methanol, excellent selectivity for the amine over alcohol/amide products could be achieved for a broad assortment of carbonyl-containing compounds.

Novel variants of CYP21A2 in Vietnamese patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

Background: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) (OMIM #201910) is a complex disease most often caused by pathogenic variant of the CYP21A2 gene. We have designed an efficient multistep approach to diagnose and classify CAH cases due to CYP21A2 variant and to study the genotype-phenotype relationship.

Methods: A large cohort of 212 Vietnamese patients from 204 families was recruited.

A copper-mediated reverse aromatic Finkelstein reaction in ionic liquid.

We have developed a general method for reverse aromatic Finkelstein reactions. Good reaction yields were obtained when aryl iodides or aryl bromides were treated with copper halide salts as promoters in a 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([BMIM]Br) ionic liquid (IL) solvent at 140 °C for 8 h. Preliminary investigation supported that the copper salts were also the halide sources in halogen exchange reactions.

Photoinduced Carboborative Ring Contraction Enables Regio- and Stereoselective Synthesis of Multiply Substituted Five-Membered Carbocycles and Heterocycles.

We report herein a photoinduced carboborative ring contraction of monounsaturated six-membered carbocycles and heterocycles. The reaction produces substituted five-membered ring systems stereoselectively and on preparative scales. The products feature multiple stereocenters, including contiguous quaternary carbons.

Glucocorticoid receptor expression in 20 solid tumor types using immunohistochemistry assay.

Background: Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) activity plays a role in many aspects of human physiology and may play a crucial role in chemotherapy resistance in a wide variety of solid tumors. A novel immunohistochemistry (IHC) based assay has been previously developed and validated in order to assess GR immunoreactivity in triple-negative breast cancer. The current study investigates the standardized use of this validated assay to assess GR expression in a broad range of solid tumor malignancies.