Antimalarial-agent artemisinin and derivatives portray more potent binding to Lys353 and Lys31-binding hotspots of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein than hydroxychloroquine: potential repurposing of artenimol for COVID-19.

Medicinal herbs have proved along history to be a source of multiple cures. In this paper, we demonstrate how hydroxychloroquine can act as a good inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein receptor-binding-domain using molecular docking studies. We also unveil how hydroxychloroquine can interfere in the prevention of Lys353 in hACE2 from interacting with the corresponding binding hotspot present on the Spike protein.

Short Total Synthesis of (±)-γ-Lycorane by a Sequential Intramolecular Acylal Cyclisation (IAC) and Intramolecular Heck Addition Reaction.

An intramolecular acylal cyclisation (IAC) approach to the synthesis of a range of bicyclic heterocycles is reported. As an example of the utility of the IAC reaction, the methodology was applied in a protecting-group-free five-step total synthesis of (±)-γ-lycorane, incorporating a new intramolecular Heck addition reaction to generate the pentacyclic core structure of the natural product in good yield.