Palladium-Catalyzed Aminocyclization-Coupling Cascades: Preparation of Dehydrotryptophan Derivatives and Computational Study.

Dehydrotryptophan derivatives have been prepared by palladium-catalyzed aminocyclization-Heck-type coupling cascades starting from -alkynylaniline derivatives and methyl α-aminoacrylate. Aryl, alkyl (primary, secondary, and tertiary), and alkenyl substituents have been introduced at the indole C-2 position. Further variations at the indole benzene ring, as well as the C-2-unsubstituted case, have all been demonstrated.

On the regiochemical differences between Pd-catalyzed heterocyclization-allylation and -arylation reactions of alkynylbenzamides: preparation of 4-allyl-isochromen-1-imines and computational study.

The Pd(0)-catalyzed cyclization-allylation reactions of 2-alkynylbenzamides proceed with high regioselectivity to afford the 6-endo-cyclization-derived products 4-allyl-isochromen-1-imines. DFT calculations have been performed on this and the related arylation reaction, that has been reported to afford the products corresponding to an exo-cyclization under similarly Pd(0)-catalyzed conditions. Under the reaction conditions, these cyclizations are presumed to be triggered by activation of the C-C triple bond with either an allyl- or an aryl palladium complex, generated by oxidative addition of an allyl- or aryl halide to the Pd(0) catalyst.

Vagus nerve stimulation therapy for treatment-resistant epilepsy: a 15-year experience at a single institution.

Objective: Treatment-resistant epilepsy (TRE) occurs in 20-30% of patients. The goal of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) in this group of patients, including adult and pediatric populations and several off-label indications.

Methods: This is a retrospective review of 59 consecutive patients in whom 60 VNS devices were implanted at a single institution during a 15-year period.

Synthesis of 7-alkylidene-7,12-dihydroindolo[3,2-d]benzazepine-6-(5H)-ones (7-alkylidene-paullones) by N-cyclization-oxidative Heck cascade and characterization as sirtuin modulators.

An extension of our reported protocol to benzofused heterocyclic derivatives (benzofurans, indoles, isochromeneimines), involving a palladium-induced cascade of N-cyclization and oxidative Heck reactions of o-alkynylanilines, has allowed the preparation of indolobenzazepinones (paullones) with an alkylidene group at C7 in just 3-4 steps from ortho-iodoanilines. Some of these compounds behave as Sirt1 activators in biochemical assays.

Catalyst- and solvent-dependent stereodivergence in the intramolecular Et(2)Zn/Pd(0) -promoted carbonyl propargylation: mechanistic implications.

Carbonyl-tethered propargylic benzoates undergo intramolecular carbonylpropargylation upon treatment with Et2 Zn in the presence of a catalytic amount of Pd(0) with the formation of 2-alkynylcyclopentanol products. A ligand/solvent effect on the cis/trans selectivity (referring to the relative positions of alkynyl and OH groups) of ring-closure has been found. In a non-coordinating solvent (benzene), increasing the electron-donating ability of the phosphine ligand (while decreasing its dissociation ability) leads to an increased tendency towards the trans product.