Metal-Free [5 + 1] Cycloaddition-Aromatization of Benzotriazoles and Sulfur Ylides to Construct 1,2,4-Benzotriazines.

Reported herein is a novel [5 + 1] cycloaddition-aromatization of benzotriazoles and sulfur ylides to efficiently construct 1,2,4-benzotriazine derivates with good yield. This new protocol does not employ any transition metal reagent and enables the cycloaddition by cleavage of the N-N single bond. The use of inexpensive and readily available starting materials, a broad substrate scope, mild reaction conditions, metal-free, and versatile functionalization of the 1,2,4-benzotriazines make this strategy more attractive.

Synthesis of Furo[2,3-][1,4]diazepin-3-one Derivatives through Tandem Cyclization/[4 + 3] Annulation Reactions.

A variety of furo[2,3-][1,4]diazepin-3-one derivatives were facilely synthesized through one-pot tandem cyclization/[4 + 3] annulation reactions between enynamides and α-bromohydroxamates. The reactions proceeded efficiently at room temperature, and various functional groups were well tolerated. The obtained furo[2,3-][1,4]diazepin-3(2)-ones containing a 7-membered dinitrogen-fused ring might be of biological and medicinal value.

Spatial and temporal characteristics of tropical nights in Seoul.

We examined the spatial and temporal characteristics of tropical nights (TNs) in Seoul to determine whether land use factors increase the frequency of TN. The number of TN was derived using data from 23 Automatic Weathering Stations (AWS) in Seoul for 1998-2006, and 26 AWS in Seoul and nine Gangnam-gu stations for 2007-2013. The results show that the number of TN recorded in the Seoul Automatic Synoptic Observation System (ASOS) gradually increased from 1971 to 2013.

Umpolung Strategy for the Synthesis of Chiral Dispiro[2-amino-4,5-dihydrofuran-3-carbonitrile]bisoxindoles.

Based on a novel umpolung strategy, an efficient and highly enantioselective cascade aldol/cyclization/tautomerization of the 2-(2-oxoindolin-3-yl)malononitrile to active carbonyl compounds with excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivity has been developed. Also, various enantio-enriched multifunctional dispiro[2-amino-4,5-dihydrofuran-3-carbonitrile]bisoxindoles with adjacent spiro-stereocenters were conveniently obtained by this novel methodology. Also, the dispiro[2-amino-4,5-dihydrofuran-3-carbonitrile]bisoxindoles were easily transformed into structurally complex molecules without any effect on the diastereo- and enantioselectivity.

Investigation of drought-vulnerable regions in North Korea using remote sensing and cloud computing climate data.

Drought is one of the most severe natural disasters in the world and leads to serious challenges that affect both the natural environment and human societies. North Korea (NK) has frequently suffered from severe and prolonged droughts since the second half of the twentieth century. These droughts affect the growing conditions of agricultural crops, which have led to food shortages in NK.