Bis-pyrrolidone structures as versatile building blocks for the synthesis of bio-based polyesters and for the preparation of additives.

In this work, three bis-pyrrolidone-based structures (BP) were synthesized combining dimethyl itaconate (DMI), the dimethyl ester derivative of itaconic acid, with various aliphatic diamines having a C4 to C12 carbon chain length with the aim of developing novel bio-based building blocks. All three BPs were obtained with a purity >93% and could further be used without performing any tedious purification step, therefore allowing an easy scalability of the synthesis on a 10 g scale. Their potential application was demonstrated in two key areas of modern polymer science: (1) the enzymatic synthesis of polyesters and (2) their use as poly(lactic acid) (PLA) additives.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of new H2S-releasing rivastigmine derivatives as neuroprotective molecules.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) represents one of the main challenges for the 21st century medical research as no disease-modifying agent has been successfully progressed to the market, while the number of people affected by AD is estimated to grow exponentially over the next years. The complex network of triggering factors involved in the insurgence and progression of AD can be rightly addressed as one of the main reasons behind the difficulty in identifying new pharmacological approaches. For this reason, the discovery and development of drugs endowed with pleiotropic activity remain the most valuable, but at the same time challenging, approaches to tackle down AD.

Germline Variant Spectrum in Southern Italian High-Risk Hereditary Breast Cancer Patients: Insights from Multi-Gene Panel Testing.

Hereditary breast cancer accounts for 5-10% of all cases, with pathogenic variants in and other susceptibility genes playing a crucial role. This study elucidates the prevalence and spectrum of germline variants in 13 cancer predisposition genes among high-risk hereditary breast cancer patients from Southern Italy. We employed next-generation sequencing (NGS) to analyze 254 individuals selected through genetic counseling.

On the effect of microwave energy on the Michael addition of dimethyl malonate on levoglucosenone.

Among biomass-derived platform molecules one of the most prominent structures is levoglucosenone (LGO) from which it is possible to derive a wide array of solvents, chemicals, and polymeric materials. In this work we investigated the Michael addition of dimethyl malonate on levoglucosenone by testing several alternative catalysts ranging from Lewis acids to structured silicas and clays. The work had the double aim to i) optimize the reaction using the widely reported KF/Alumina catalyst, giving a frame of reference for its relative activity in this Michael addition and ii) conduct a catalyst screen while investigating various reaction mechanisms.