Glycosylation with N-acetyl glycosamine donors using catalytic iron(iii) triflate: from microwave batch chemistry to a scalable continuous-flow process

Efficient glycosylation reactions of peracetylated β-d-N-acetyl glycosamines are described using catalytic iron(iii) triflate under microwave conditions or in a continuous flow process.

Catalysed stereodivergent hydrosilylation with Onium Salts stabilised M(0) nanocatalysts prepared in scCO2

M(0) nanocatalysts stabilised in Onium Salt were synthesised using an original preparation and their effectiveness in catalysing the challenging selective sterodivergent alkyne hydrosilylation reaction was studied.

Continuous coflow synthesis of hybrid palladium nanocrystals as catalysts for borylation reaction

The combination of highly active Pd nanocrystal (NC) types with tailored surface properties (various ligands) - e.g. organic-inorganic hybrid NCs - as catalysts opens avenues towards new synthetic pathways, implying a faster practical alternative for adjusting and screening the reaction conditions. Pd@dppf and Pd@PCy3 NCs have been successfully prepared via a continuous supercritical fluid assisted coflow route with promising results as catalysts in borylation reaction. It has been found that the ligands not only influence the catalytic properties of the systems, but also contribute to Pd metal core characteristics (size, shape and time stability).

Supercritical synthesis of biodiesel

The synthesis of biodiesel fuel from lipids (vegetable oils and animal fats) has gained in importance as a possible source of renewable non-fossil energy in an attempt to reduce our dependence on petroleum-based fuels. The catalytic processes commonly used for the production of biodiesel fuel present a series of limitations and drawbacks, among them the high energy consumption required for complex purification operations and undesirable side reactions. Supercritical fluid (SCF) technologies offer an interesting alternative to conventional processes for preparing biodiesel. This review highlights the advances, advantages, drawbacks and new tendencies involved in the use of supercritical fluids (SCFs) for biodiesel synthesis.

Aminoborylation/Suzuki-Miyaura tandem cross coupling of aryl iodides as efficient and selective synthesis of unsymmetrical biaryls

Sequential borylation of a first aryl iodide using a dialkylaminoborane followed by a Suzuki-Miyaura cross coupling of second aryl iodide ended up with an efficient, selective and practical synthesis of unsymmetrical biaryls. This tandem coupling shows a wide range of applicability.

Protein chemical modification on endogenous amino acids

Chemical modification of protein is an arduous but fruitful task. Many chemical methods have been developed for such purpose by carefully balancing reactivity and selectivity. Now both chemists and biologists have in hand an arsenal of tools from which they can select a relevant reaction to tackle their problems. This review focuses on the various chemical transformations available for selective modification of proteins. It also provides a brief overview of some of their main applications, including detection of protein interactions, preparation of bioconjugates, and protein microarrays.

Targeted intracellular protein degradation induced by a small molecule: En route to chemical proteomics

We have developed a heterobifunctional all-small molecule PROTAC (PROteolysis TArgeting Chimera) capable of inducing proteasomal degradation of the androgen receptor. This cell permeable PROTAC consists of a non-steroidal androgen receptor ligand (SARM) and the MDM2 ligand known as nutlin, connected by a PEG-based linker. The SARM-nutlin PROTAC recruits the androgen receptor to MDM2, which functions as an E3 ubiquitin ligase. This leads to the ubiquitination of the androgen receptor, and its subsequent degradation by the proteasome. Upon treatment of HeLa cells with 10microM PROTAC for 7h, we were able to observe a decrease in androgen receptor levels. This degradation is proteasome dependent, as it is mitigated in cells pre-treated with 10microM epoxomicin, a specific proteasome inhibitor. These results have implications for the potential study and treatment of various cancers with increased androgen receptor levels.

Natural products: chemical instruments to apprehend biological symphony

As a striking variety of biological activities are elicited by natural products, these chemicals have been used for decades to study biological phenomena. Understanding how these products interfere with normal cell functions at a molecular level led to a wide range of discoveries including new signaling pathways and proteins. Moreover, as natural products often act as chemical inhibitors, such studies often allow the identification of their binding partners as relevant targets for drug design. This article aims to emphasize how natural products or engineered analogs can be used as chemical tools to apprehend some biological problems from the point of view of a chemical biologist.

Carbinol derivatives via rhodium-catalyzed addition of potassium trifluoro(organo)borates to aldehydes

Reaction of potassium aryltrifluoroborates with aldehydes, in the presence of a rhodium catalyst, afforded carbinol derivatives in high yields under mild aqueous conditions; this efficient reaction proved to be general, allowing the production of highly hindered diarylmethanols and aliphatic aldehydes were also reactive under these conditions.

Direct Access to Ketones from Aldehydes via Rhodium-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reaction with Potassium Trifluoro(organo)borates

A direct cross-coupling reaction of aromatic aldehydes with potassium trifluoro(organo)borates afforded ketones in high yields and under mild conditions in the presence of a rhodium catalyst and acetone. This new reaction, involving a formal aldehyde C-H bond activation, is believed to proceed via a Heck-type mechanism followed by hydride transfer to acetone.