N-Heterocyclic carbene (NHC) organocatalysis: from fundamentals to frontiers.

N-Heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) have been used as organocatalysts for a multitude of C-C and C-heteroatom bond-forming reactions. They enable diverse modalities of activating a wide range of structurally distinct substrate classes and allow access to electronically distinct intermediates. The easy tunability of the NHC scaffold contributes to its versatility.

The kinematic coupling during Ponseti correction in idiopathic clubfoot: A quantitative analysis.

Background: The study aimed to quantify and correlate kinematic coupling linkage of foot abduction (correction of adduction) and inversion, heel varus and ankle equinus for clubfeet corrected by Ponseti technique.

Methods: Measurements of foot abduction (derotation of carpopedal block), heel varus and ankle equinus were available from Dimeglio scores in 25 feet. Radiological angles were considered for foot inversion-eversion.

Access to β-Keto Amino Acid Derivatives via Interrupted Polonovski Strategy Involving NHC-Catalyzed Aza Benzoin Reaction.

A general and practical route to the synthesis of β-keto amino acid derivatives from aldehydes and bench stable imine surrogates is presented. Following the interrupted Polonovski strategy, the imine formed in situ was trapped by the catalytically generated Breslow intermediate in an aza benzoin reaction. The present strategy has been extended to the formal synthesis of florfenicol and an intermediate en route to vancomycin.