Vesicular Glutamate Transporter Inhibitors: Structurally Modified Brilliant Yellow Analogs.

Glutamate uptake into synaptic vesicles in nerve terminals is a pivotal step in glutamate synaptic transmission. Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter and, as such, the vesicular glutamate transporter (VGLUT) responsible for this uptake is involved in a variety of nervous system functions and various types of pathophysiology. As yet, no VGLUT-specific, membrane-permeable agents have been developed to affect neuronal function in intact neurons, although two potent VGLUTspecific inhibitors are known.

Efficient asymmetric synthesis of structurally diverse P-stereogenic phosphinamides for catalyst design.

The use of chiral phosphinamides is relatively unexplored because of the lack of a general method for the synthesis. Reported herein is the development of a general, efficient, and highly enantioselective method for the synthesis of structurally diverse P-stereogenic phosphinamides. The method relies on nucleophilic substitution of a chiral phosphinate derived from the versatile chiral phosphinyl transfer agent 1,3,2-benzoxazaphosphinine-2-oxide.

A Weinreb amide approach to the synthesis of trifluoromethylketones.

A novel route to access trifluoromethylketones (TFMKs) from Weinreb amides is reported. This represents the first documented case of the Ruppert-Prakash reagent (TMS-CF(3)) reacting in a constructive manner with an amide and enables synthesis of TMFKs without risk of over-trifluoromethylation.