[Burden of disease from influenza-like illness among hospital staff and effectiveness of influenza vaccination during the flu epidemic at the beginning of 2015].

Background: Although influenca is observed by a whole series of measures in Germany, uncertainty exists, especially with regard to the effectiveness of influenza vaccination.

Methods: 202 persons employed in hospitals in northern Bavaria were retrospectively asked about disability and bedriddenness due to flu or flu-like infections during flu epidemic in the first quarter (Q1) of 2015. In addition, details on influenza vaccination and other preventive measures against flu or flu-like infection as well as smoking habits were ascertained.

A practical one-pot synthesis of enantiopure unsymmetrical salen ligands.

A practical, one-pot synthesis of enantiopure unsymmetrical salen ligands is described, using a 1:1:1 molar ratio of a chiral diamine and two different salicylaldehydes. The new synthetic protocol can be readily performed in good yields (60-85%) on a multigram scale with good tolerance toward various functional groups.

Modular approach for the development of supported, monofunctionalized, salen catalysts.

We report a modular approach toward polymer-supported, metalated, salen catalysts. This strategy is based on the synthesis of monofunctionalized Mn- and Co-salen complexes attached to a norbornene monomer via a stable phenylene-acetylene linker. The resulting functionalized monomers can be polymerized in a controlled fashion using ring-opening metathesis polymerization.

Helically chiral polymers: a class of ligands for asymmetric catalysis.

Helically chiral polymers from achiral monomers containing N and P atoms have been shown to be ligands for transition metals such as Pd and Rh. The Rh complex of the phosphane-containing polyisocyanate p(18-co-17) was an active albeit hardly enantioselective catalyst in the asymmetric hydrogenation of the dehydro amino acid N-acetamidocinnamic acid (15% enantiomeric excess). The most active catalyst obtained until now was the Pd-complexed polymethacrylate Pd-p12, which catalyzes the allylic substitution reaction of 1,3-diphenylprop-2-enyl acetate with dimethyl malonate even at -20 degrees C in quantitative yield, although again the enantioselectivity was unsatisfactory.