Asymmetric [3 + 2] Photocycloaddition of β-Keto Esters and Vinyl Azides by Dual Photoredox/Nickel Catalysis.

Photocatalytic [3 + 2] cycloadditions and control of stereochemistry have remained a substantial challenge, particularly in the context of heterocycle synthesis; sporadic successful examples have involved enantioselective [3 + 2] photocycloaddition between redox-active direct group-containing cyclopropanes and alkenes for creation of cyclopentanes. Herein, we report a cooperative catalytic system comprising a chiral nickel Lewis acid catalyst and an organic photocatalyst fueled by visible-light irradiation that allows for the hitherto elusive asymmetric [3 + 2] photocycloaddition of β-keto esters with vinyl azides under redox-neutral conditions. This protocol enables highly enantioselective construction of polycyclic densely substituted 3,4-dihydro-2-pyrrole heterocycles featuring two contiguous tetrasubstituted carbon stereocenters, including a useful chiral ,-ketal motif that is not easily accessible with other catalytic methods.

Visible-Light-Driven Nitrogen Radical-Catalyzed [3 + 2] Cyclization of Vinylcyclopropanes and -Tosyl Vinylaziridines with Alkenes.

A visible light photoredox-promoted and nitrogen radical catalyzed [3 + 2] cyclization of vinylcyclopropanes and -tosyl vinylaziridines with alkenes is developed. Key to the success of this process is the use of the readily tunable hydrazone as a nitrogen radical catalyst. Preliminary mechanism studies suggest that the photogenerated nitrogen radical undergoes reversible radical addition to the vinylcyclopropanes and -tosyl vinylaziridines to enable their ring-opening C-C and C-N bond cleavage and ensuing cyclization with alkenes.

Photogenerated Neutral Nitrogen Radical Catalyzed Bifunctionalization of Alkenes.

Alkene bifunctionalizations are powerful tools for the rapid construction of structurally complex and valuable scaffolds, and such reactions typically involve the use of transition-metal catalysts or organocatalysts. Here, we report for the first time a photogenerated neutral nitrogen radical catalyzed intermolecular alkene bifunctionalization by using allyl sulfones as the source of both the carbon and the sulfone functionalities under mild conditions. The key to the success of this protocol involves the visible-light-mediated photocatalytic in situ generation of a nitrogen-centered radical from the N-(2-acetylphenyl) benzenesulfonamide catalyst, and its activation of the allyl sulfones to generate reactive species.

A Dual Associated-Functional Fluorescent Switch: From Alternate Detection Cycle for Fe(III) and pH to Molecular Logic Operations.

With the expansion and deepening of scientific research, dual-functional or multifunctional materials are urgently needed to replace those for single application. Herein, a fluorescence sensing system based on an In(III)-organic complex with in situ Lewis acid sites has been constructed, exhibiting high sensitivity for the detection of Fe(III) ions with a low detection limit of 3.95 μM and a short response time of within 10 s.

miRNA-218 inhibits osteosarcoma cell migration and invasion by down-regulating of TIAM1, MMP2 and MMP9.

Deregulated miRNAs participate in osteosarcoma genesis. In this study, the expression of miRNA-218 in human osteosarcomas, adjacent normal tissues and Saos-2 human osteosarcoma cells was first assessed. Then the precise role of miRNA-218 in osteosarcoma cells was investigated.