Adaptation of a cyanobacterium to a biochemically rich environment in experimental evolution as an initial step toward a chloroplast-like state.

Chloroplasts originated from cyanobacteria through endosymbiosis. The original cyanobacterial endosymbiont evolved to adapt to the biochemically rich intracellular environment of the host cell while maintaining its photosynthetic function; however, no such process has been experimentally demonstrated. Here, we show the adaptation of a model cyanobacterium, Synechocystis sp.

Preparation and synthetic application of a novel ketene silyl acetal of methyl trifluoropyruvate.

[reaction: see text] A novel trifluoromethyl ketene silyl acetal (4) of methyl trifluoropyruvate (1) was prepared in 82% yield by metal Mg reduction in a (TMS)Cl/THF system. Subsequent carbon-carbon bond formation such as Mukaiyama aldol, Michael addition, and other nucleophilic reactions of 4 at the trifluoromethylated carbon with various electrophiles gave various coupling products in high yields.