Synthesis of 3-Hydroxy-4-arylquinolin-2-ones Including Viridicatol via a Darzens Condensation/Friedel-Crafts Alkylation Strategy.

The new efficient synthesis of biologically important 3-hydroxy-4-arylquinolin-2-ones through the Darzens condensation (epoxidation) of dichloroacetanilides with aromatic aldehydes followed by one-pot dechlorative epoxide-arene cyclization is described. This methodology has been utilized for the synthesis of naturally occurring viridicatol, a fungal metabolite isolated from the penicillium species.

Fatal respiratory tract diphtheria apparently caused by nontoxigenic strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae.

A major diphtheria epidemic affecting the whole population of St. Petersburg started in 1990. During the period of 1991 to 1995, 4600 patients with clinical respiratory tract diphtheria were treated in Botkin's Hospital.

[The morphological characteristics of diphtheria in adults under current conditions].

Clinico-anatomical analysis of 112 lethal cases of diphtheria in adults showed a grave course of the disease in chronic alcoholics at the age of 40-49 years. The morphological changes were characterized by a complex of typical changes at the primary focus, intracanalicular and hematogenous dissemination with high bacteremia. The morphology of pneumonia caused by Corynebacterium diphtheria is described for the first time.