Taming Chiral Quaternary Stereocenters via Remote H-Bonding Stereoinduction in Palladium-Catalyzed (3+2) Cycloadditions.

Ring-opening transformations of donor-acceptor (D-A) cyclopropanes enable the rapid assembly of complex molecules. However, the enantioselective formation of chiral quaternary stereocenters using substrates bearing two different acceptors remains a challenge. Herein, we describe the first palladium-catalyzed highly diastereo- and enantioselective (3+2) cycloaddition of vinyl cyclopropanes bearing two different electron-withdrawing groups, a subset of D-A cyclopropanes.

Concise Total Synthesis of Salimabromide.

We achieved a concise total synthesis of salimabromide by using a novel intramolecular radical cyclization to simultaneously construct the unique benzo-fused [4.3.1] carbon skeleton and the vicinal quaternary stereocenters.

Concise Enantioselective Total Synthesis of Daphenylline Enabled by an Intramolecular Oxidative Dearomatization.

Daphenylline is a structurally unique member of the triterpenoid natural alkaloids, which exhibit intriguing biological activities. Six total syntheses have been reported, five of which utilize aromatization approaches. Herein, we report a concise protecting-group-free total synthesis by means of a novel intramolecular oxidative dearomatization reaction, which concurrently generates the critical seven-membered ring and the quaternary-containing vicinal stereocenters.

Enantioselective Addition-Alkylation of α,β-Unsaturated Carbonyls via Bisguanidinium Silicate Ion Pair Catalysis.

Silicon hydrides, alkynylsilanes, and alkoxylsilanes were activated by fluoride in the presence of bisguanidinium catalyst to form hypervalent silicate ion pairs. These activated silicates undergo 1,4-additions with chromones, coumarins, and α-cyanocinnamic esters generating enolsilicate intermediates, for a consequent stereoselective alkylation reaction. The reduction-alkylation reaction proceeded under mild conditions using polymethylhydrosiloxane, a cheap and environmentally friendly hydride source.

Optically Active Flavaglines-Inspired Molecules by a Palladium-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Dearomative Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation.

With the aid of a class of newly discovered Trost-type bisphosphine ligands bearing a chiral cycloalkane framework, the Pd-catalyzed decarboxylative dearomative asymmetric allylic alkylation (AAA) of benzofurans was achieved with high efficiency [0.2-1.0 mol% Pd(dba)/], good generality, and high enantioselectivity (>30 examples, 82-99% yield and 90-96% ee).

Perinatal exposure to bisphenol A causes a disturbance of neurotransmitter metabolic pathways in female mouse offspring: A focus on the tryptophan and dopamine pathways.

Perinatal exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) contributes to neurological disorders in offspring, but the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. The abnormal release of neuroactive metabolites in the tryptophan (TRP) and dopamine (DA) pathways is considered to be closely associated with some disorders. Thus, in this study, TRP and DA pathways in adult female mouse offspring were investigated when the pregnant mice were given either vehicle or BPA (2, 10, or 100 μg/kg/d) from day 6 of gestation until weaning.

Massive haemoptysis from right middle lobe bronchus managed by customized silicon stents.

Massive haemoptysis is life-threatening. Management options include pharmacological treatment, bronchial artery embolization, surgical resection, and bronchoscopic interventions. As an alternative treatment method of controlling haemoptysis, endobronchial stent insertion has been performed in several pulmonary carcinoma patients.

A sensitive method for the determination of the gender difference of neuroactive metabolites in tryptophan and dopamine pathways in mouse serum and brain by UHPLC-MS/MS.

Tryptophan (TRP) and dopamine (DA) pathways are of great importance for their related pathology and physiology. In the present study, a new reliable and sensitive analytical method was developed and validated for 12 neuroactive metabolites in TRP and DA pathways in mouse serum and brain by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). The method exhibited good sensitivity as the lower limit of detections ranged from 0.

Optimized ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem high resolution mass spectrometry method for the quantification of paraquat in plasma and urine.

A simple, sensitive and specific ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray tandem high resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-HRMS/MS) method has been developed and validated for quantification of paraquat in plasma and urine. The sample preparation was carried out by one-step protein precipitation with acetonitrile. The paraquat was separated with a HILIC column in 10min.

Synthesis of (+)-7,20-Diisocyanoadociane and Liver-Stage Antiplasmodial Activity of the Isocyanoterpene Class.

7,20-Diisocyanoadociane, a scarce marine metabolite with potent antimalarial activity, was synthesized as a single enantiomer in 13 steps from simple building blocks (17 linear steps). Chemical synthesis enabled identification of isocyanoterpene antiplasmodial activity against liver-stage parasites, which suggested that inhibition of heme detoxification does not exclusively underlie the mechanism of action of this class.

Simultaneous quantification of neuroactive dopamine serotonin and kynurenine pathway metabolites in gender-specific youth urine by ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem high resolution mass spectrometry.

Neuroactive metabolites in dopamine, serotonin and kynurenine metabolic pathways play key roles in several physiological processes and their imbalances have been implicated in the pathophysiology of a wide range of disorders. The association of these metabolites' alterations with various pathologies has raised interest in analytical methods for accurate quantification in biological fluids. However, simultaneous measurement of various neuroactive metabolites represents great challenges due to their trace level, high polarity and instability.

Paleo-soraphens: chemical total syntheses and biological studies.

The soraphens are natural products that exhibit a molecular structure different from what would have been expected by following its polyketidal assembly line. The most significant differences are the presence of a hemiketal instead of a trisubstituted double bond and a double bond at C9 and C10 where a saturated carbon chain was expected. We were interested in the biological activity of the soraphens with architectures as described by the polyketide synthase since we hypothesized that these modifications reflect the evolutionary optimization of the soraphens.

An eight-step gram-scale synthesis of (-)-jiadifenolide.

Development of a biologically active secondary metabolite into a useful medicine requires continuous access to meaningful quantities of material. Although any chemical synthesis is broadly useful for its versatility, identification of a synthesis route that can be economically scaled represents a greater challenge. Here we report a concise synthesis of the neurotrophic trace metabolite (-)-jiadifenolide and its production on a gram-scale.

A class of nonlocal coupled semilinear parabolic system with nonlocal boundaries.

We investigate the positive solutions of the semilinear parabolic system with coupled nonlinear nonlocal sources subject to weighted nonlocal Dirichlet boundary conditions. The blow-up and global existence criteria are obtained.

The vinylogous Mukaiyama aldol reaction (VMAR) in natural product synthesis.

The vinylogous Mukaiyama aldol reaction (VMAR) allows efficient access to larger segments for complex natural product synthesis, primarily polyketides, through the construction of vicinal hydroxyl and methyl groups as well as di and tri-substituted double bonds in one single operation. In this review, we will highlight stereoselective protocols that have been used in natural product synthesis and cluster them into the four groups that can be obtained from different silyl ketene acetals or enol ethers. At the beginning, an overview on different stereoselective VMARs is presented; disregarding their applications in total syntheses.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of paleo-soraphens.

Synthesis can provide molecules such as paleo-soraphens A and B that are genetically encoded but not obtained from the natural source. Although it is unclear whether this is part of an evolutionary process or the consequence of the chemical synthesis, the biological evaluation of these genetically encoded natural products can shed light on how natural products are structurally optimized with respect to their biological profile.

Enantioselective conjugate addition of oximes to trisubstituted β-nitroacrylates: an organocatalytic approach to β(2,2)-amino acid derivatives.

A highly enantioselective organocatalytic intermolecular conjugate addition of oximes to β-nitroacrylates has been developed. The highly functionalized adducts obtained are valuable precursors for asymmetric synthesis, as demonstrated by the synthesis of β(2,2)-amino acids and oxazolidin-2-ones.

Enantioselective Michael reactions of beta, beta-disubstituted nitroalkenes: a new approach to beta(2,2)-amino acids with hetero-quaternary stereocenters.

An atom-economic organocatalytic asymmetric Michael reaction of alpha,beta,beta-trisubstituted olefins has been successfully developed. The reaction exhibits excellent enantioselectivities under low loading of catalysts, and the conjugate addition products are valuable for the synthesis of novel beta(2,2)-amino acids and beta-peptides.

Highly enantioselective organocatalytic Michael addition of nitroalkanes to 4-oxo-enoates.

A useful Michael addition reaction using nitroalkanes as the nucleophile and 4-oxo-enoates as the Michael acceptor has been disclosed, and the reaction allows expedient access to functionalized chiral gamma-keto esters in high yields and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee), with a low catalyst loading.

In vivo MR tracking of mesenchymal stem cells in rat liver after intrasplenic transplantation.

Purpose: To prospectively track in vivo in rats intrasplenically transplanted stem cells labeled with superparamagnetic particles by using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.

Materials And Methods: The study was approved by the institutional Committee on Animal Research. Liver damage in 12 rats was induced with subcutaneous injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4).

[A study of the clinical classification of 3638 cases of mushroom poisoning].

Objective: To study the clinical classification and characteristics as well as prognosis of mushroom poisoning.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 191 papers published domestically for 3466 cases of mushroom poisoning from 1995 to 2004 and studied the Xinqiao Hospital data of 172 cases of mushroom poisoning treated from 1980 through 2004. We made a retrospective investigation and clinical classification of all the 3638 cases of mushroom poisoning.

[Committed differentiation of transplanted bone derived mesenchymal stem cells and their potential to amend damaged liver functions: in vivo experiment with mice].

Objective: To observe whether bone mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the potential to transdifferentiate into functional hepatocyte-like cells in the special "niche" as well as the therapeutic feasibility to repair damaged liver in mice.

Methods: 20 nude mice were randomly divided into four groups (n = 5 in each group): Group A: 1.0 ml/kg of carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) (dissolved in olive oil by ratio of 1:1) was injected into the peritoneum of mice twice a week for 5 weeks.