Increased frequency of cardioembolism and patent foramen ovale in patients with stroke and a positive travel history suggesting economy class stroke syndrome.

Objective: To investigate the frequency of acute stroke in patients with a recent travel history and to analyse risk factors, stroke patterns and presence of a patent foramen ovale (PFO) in this patient group.

Design: One-year prospective observational study.

Setting: Single-centre study.

An efficient three-step synthesis of cyclopenta[b]pyrans via 2-donor-substituted fischer ethenylcarbenechromium complexes.

A wide range of cyclopenta[b]pyrans 4 has been synthesized in a one-pot reaction by treatment of different 2-donorsubstituted ethenylcarbenechromium complexes 2 with alkynes in THF in moderate to excellent yields (41-90 % for 14 out of 25 examples). The starting materials 2 are readily available in good to excellent yields (76-99 % for 25 out of 36 examples) by Michael addition of amines, alcohols and thiols, respectively, to the corresponding alkynylcarbenechromium complexes 1. Due to their 10 pi-electrons in a cross-conjugated bicyclic system, cyclopenta[b]pyrans have been termed pseudoazulenes, as they indeed have similar UV/Vis-spectroscopic properties.

Highly functionalized five-membered carbocycles from (3-dialkylamino-1-ethoxyalkenylidene)pentacarbonylchromium complexes and alkynes: the effects of substituents, solvents, ligand additives, and reagent concentrations on the product distribution.

The cocyclization reaction of pentacarbonyl(beta-amino-1-ethoxyalkenylidene)chromium complexes 1 with alkynes has been studied with respect to the effects of substituents, solvents, ligand additives, and reagent concentrations upon the product distribution. This reaction proceeds either as a formal [2 + 2 + 1] cycloaddition to give 5-(1'-dialkylaminoalkylidene)-4-ethoxycyclopent-2-enones 8 or a formal [3 + 2] cycloaddition to give 5-dialkylamino-3-ethoxy-1,3-cyclopentadienes 9. A working hypothesis for the mechanism of this reaction is proposed on the basis of that previously determined for the Dötz reaction.

Fischer Carbene Complexes as Chemical Multitalents: The Incredible Range of Products from Carbenepentacarbonylmetal alpha,beta-Unsaturated Complexes.

The metal carbene complexes, discovered by E. O. Fischer at the start of the 1960s and carrying his name, have since proved themselves to be irreplaceable building blocks for organic synthesis.

Highly Substituted Spiro[4.4]nonatrienes from a β-Amino-Substituted α,β-Unsaturated Fischer Carbene Complex and Three Molecules of an Arylalkyne.

A novel mode of reaction towards arylethynes is shown by the β-trimethylsilyl-substituted α,β-unsaturated Fischer carbene complexes 1. A mixture of the isomeric, highly substituted spiro[4.4]nonatrienes 2 and 3 is formed by the formal insertion of three alkyne molecules and subsequent cyclization (see scheme).