Syntheses of structurally-simplified and fluorescently-labeled neovibsanin derivatives and analysis of their neurite outgrowth activity in PC12 cells.

The syntheses of several neovibsanin derivatives were carried out in order to elucidate the simple structure required for displaying neurite outgrowth activity. In addition, a fluorescent probe molecule was synthesized and the analysis of its behavior in the PC12 cell line showed that the neovibsanins accumulate on the outer edge of the cell at the site of formation of prominences.

Total synthesis of (+/-)-neovibsanin B.

(+/-)-Neovibsanin B was synthesized based on a DMI-accelerated intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction followed by oxy-Michael addition-lactonization. The synthetic (+/-)-neovibsanin B induced similar morphological changes in NGF-mediated PC12 cells compared with natural (+)-neovibsanin B.

Mercuric triflate-catalyzed synthesis of 2-methylfurans from 1-alkyn-5-ones.

[reaction: see text] 2-Methylfurans were prepared by an effective cyclization of 1-alkyn-5-ones in the presence of mercuric triflate as the catalyst under very mild reaction conditions with high catalytic turnover up to 100 times. Benzene, toluene, or dichloromethane was the solvent of choice.