Volatile Anesthetic Sevoflurane Precursor 1,1,1,3,3,3-Hexafluoro-2-Propanol (HFIP) Exerts an Anti-Prion Activity in Prion-Infected Culture Cells.

Prion disease is a neurodegenerative disorder with progressive neurologic symptoms and accelerated cognitive decline. The causative protein of prion disease is the prion protein (PrP), and structural transition of PrP from the normal helix rich form (PrP) to the abnormal β-sheet rich form (PrP) occurs in prion disease. While so far numerous therapeutic agents for prion diseases have been developed, none of them are still useful.

Stereochemical Investigation of the Products of the Photoinduced Perfluoroalkylation-Dimerization of Anthracene.

The photoinduced perfluoroalkylation of anthracene has been shown to provide 9,9',10,10'-tetrahydro-10,10'-diperfluoroalkyl-9,9'-bianthracenes in over 70% yields, each perfluoroalkyl iodide producing three diastereomers. The structures of all three diastereomers (cis,cis, cis,trans, and trans,trans isomers) have been elucidated by both NMR and X-ray crystallographic analyses. Most notably, an X-ray crystallographic analysis has revealed that the trans,trans diastereomer having the two trifluoromethyl groups in 10,10'-positions adopts a 74° twisted relationship of the two dihydroanthracene rings.