Sulfur Dioxide Mediated One-Pot, Three- and Four-Component Syntheses of Polyfunctional Sulfonamides and Sulfonic Esters: Study of the Stereoselectivity of the Ene Reaction of Sulfur Dioxide

The ene reaction of sulfur dioxide with enoxysilanes or with allylsilanes generates silyl sulfinates that can be brominated (Br(2) or NBS) or chlorinated (NCS or Cl(2)) to produce the corresponding sulfonyl halides. They react with primary and secondary amines or alcohols to give the corresponding sulfonamides and sulfonic esters, respectively. The hetero-Diels-Alder addition of sulfur dioxide to 1-oxy- or 1,3-dioxy-1,3-dienes generates zwitterions that add to enoxysilanes or allylsilanes giving silyl sulfinates that can be converted in situ into polyfunctional sulfonamides or sulfonic esters. This realizes quick access to libraries of complicated sulfonamides and sulfonic esters applying one-pot, three- and four-component methods.

First Asymmetric Synthesis of the Cyclohexanone Subunit of Baconipyrones A and B. Revision of Its Structure

[reaction: see text] An asymmetric synthesis of the 3,5-dihydroxycyclohexanone subunit of baconipyrones A and B, as well as that of the hydroxydiketone subunit of baconipyrones C and D ((-)-(4S,6S)-4,6-dimethyl-5-hydroxynonan-3,7-dione), is described. Key steps include sulfur dioxide-induced additions of enoxysilanes to 1,3-dioxy-1,3-dienes, followed by retro-ene desulfitations (retro-ene elimination of SO(2)).

Allyl, Methallyl, Prenyl, and Methylprenyl Ethers as Protected Alcohols: Their Selective Cleavage with Diphenyldisulfone under Neutral Conditions

Diphenyldisulfone is a mild and efficient reagent for selective cleavage of methylprenyl (2,3-dimethylbut-2-en-1-yl), prenyl (3-methylbut-2-en1-yl), and methallyl (2-methylallyl) ethers. These reaction conditions are compatible with the presence of other protecting groups such as acetals, acetates, and allyl, benzyl, and TBDMS ethers. Exposure of 2,3-dimethylbut-2-en-1-yl and 3-methylbut-2-en1-yl ethers to diphenyldisulfone led to the formation of 2,3-dimethylbuta-1,3-diene and isoprene, respectively. 2-Methylallyl ethers undergo isomerization to 2-methylpropenyl ethers, which are easily hydrolyzed into the corresponding free alcohols and isobutyraldehyde. [reaction: see text]

Placentation in species of phylogenetic importance: the Afrotheria

Afrotheria, one of four mammalian superorders, comprises elephants, sea cows, hyraxes, aardvark, elephant shrews, tenrecs and golden moles. Their placentas either form an equatorial band or are discoid in shape. The interhemal region, separating fetal and maternal blood, is endotheliochorial in elephants, aardvark and possibly the sea cows, but hemochorial in the remaining orders. There is a secondary epitheliochorial placenta in elephant shrews while a similar structure in tenrecs erodes maternal tissues. Specialized hemophagous regions are a striking characteristic of some of these placentas yet absent in hyraxes, elephant shrews, and golden moles. It is possible that the common ancestor of the Afrotheria had an endotheliochorial placenta. Establishment of a hemochorial condition, as seen in rock hyraxes, elephant shrews, tenrecs, and golden moles, would be a more recent development. The elephant, manatee, and aardvark all have circumferential placentas. Thus the formation of a discoid placenta with a more or less extensive secondary placenta in elephant shrews and tenrecs would also be a derived state.

Synthesis ofd- andl-2,3-trans-3,4-cis-4,5-trans-3,4-Dihydroxy-5-hydroxymethylproline and Tripeptides Containing Them

Enantiomerically pure (-)-(1R,4R,5R,6S)- and (+)-(1S,4S,5S,6R)-7-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-5,6-exo-isopropylidenedioxy-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-one ((-)-3 and (+)-3) have been obtained from the Diels-Alder adduct of N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)pyrrole and 2-bromo-1-(p-toluenesulfonyl)acetylene, including the Alexakis optical resolution of ketone (+/-)-3 via formation of cyclic aminals with (1R,2R)-diphenylethylenediamine. Compounds (-)-3 and (+)-3 were converted into d- and l-2,3-trans-3,4-cis-4,5-trans-N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-5-hydroxymethyl-3,4-isopropylidenedioxyprolines (-)-4 and (+)-4, respectively. Applying the Boc and Fmoc strategies of peptide synthesis, these compounds were used to construct two tripeptides containing the d- or l-2,3-trans-3,4-cis-4,5-trans-3,4-dihydroxy-5-hydroxymethylproline.

Palladium-Catalyzed Conversion of β,γ-Unsaturated Silyl Sulfinates into (E)-Alkenes: Asymmetric Synthesis of Polypropionate Fragments

At low temperature, 1-alkoxy-1,3-dienes add to sulfur dioxide activated by a Lewis or protic acid generating zwitterionic intermediates that can be quenched by enoxysilanes. The resulting beta,gamma-unsaturated silyl sulfinates can be desilylated by 1:1 Pd(OAc)(2)/PPh(3) catalyst, liberating the corresponding beta,gamma-unsaturated sulfinic acids that undergo smooth and highly stereoselective retro-ene eliminations of sulfur dioxide. The method has been applied to generate enantiomerically pure polypropionate fragments.

Synthesis of Long-Chain Polyketide Fragments by Reaction of 1,3-Dioxy-1,3-dienes with Allylsilanes: Umpolung with Sulfur Dioxide

[reaction: see text] In the presence of a Lewis or protic acid and at low temperature, 1,3-dioxy-1,3-dienes add to sulfur dioxide generating zwitterionic intermediates that can react with carbon nucleophiles such as allylsilanes. After a retro-ene elimination of SO(2), valuable polyketide precursors are obtained.

High sensitivity search for nu;e's from the sun and other sources at KamLAND

Data corresponding to a KamLAND detector exposure of 0.28 kton yr has been used to search for nu;(e)'s in the energy range 8.3<E(nu;(e))<14.8 MeV. No candidates were found for an expected background of 1.1+/-0.4 events. This result can be used to obtain a limit on nu;(e) fluxes of any origin. Assuming that all nu;(e) flux has its origin in the Sun and has the characteristic 8B solar nu(e) energy spectrum, we obtain an upper limit of 3.7 x 10(2) cm(-2) s(-1) (90% C.L.) on the nu;(e) flux. We interpret this limit, corresponding to 2.8 x 10(-4) of the standard solar model 8B nu(e) flux, in the framework of spin-flavor precession and neutrino decay models.

Polysulfones: solid organic catalysts for the chemoselective cleavage of methyl-substituted allyl ethers under neutral conditions

The solid polysulfone made of SO2 and methylidenecyclopentane catalyzes the cleavage of methyl-substituted allyl ethers and liberates the corresponding alcohols.

The first synthesis of substituted azepanes mimicking monosaccharides: a new class of potent glycosidase inhibitors

The synthesis of the first examples of seven-membered ring iminoalditols, molecules displaying an extra hydroxymethyl substituent on their seven-membered ring compared to the previously reported polyhydroxylated azepanes, has been achieved from d-arabinose in 10 steps using RCM of a protected N-allyl-aminohexenitol as a key step. While the (2R,3R,4R)-2-hydroxymethyl-3,4-dihydroxy-azepane 10, a seven-membered ring analogue of fagomine, is a weak inhibitor of glycosidases, the (2R,3R,4R,5S,6S)-2-hydroxymethyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydroxy-azepane 9 selectively inhibits green coffee bean alpha-galactosidase in the low micromolar range (Ki = 2.2 muM) despite a D-gluco relative configuration.

Palladium-Catalyzed Suzuki−Miyaura Cross-Couplings of Sulfonyl Chlorides and Boronic Acids

[reaction: see text] R = tolyl, phenyl, 4-halophenyl, 1-naphthyl, 2-nitrophenyl, benzyl, methallyl, r1 = aryl, heteroaryl, alkenyl. Arene-, arylmethane, and alk-2-ene-1-sulfonyl chlorides undergo Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling with arene-, heteroarene-, and alkeneboronic acids in THF at reflux. The reactivity order is ArI > ArSO(2)Cl > ArBr >> ArCl.

Palladium-Catalyzed Stille Cross-Couplings of Sulfonyl Chlorides and Organostannanes

Arene and phenylmethanesulfonyl chlorides can be cross-coupled with aryl, heteroaryl, and alkenylstannanes with desulfitation in the presence of 10 mol % CuBr.Me2S, 1.5 mol % Pd2dba3, and 5 mol % tri-2-furylphosphine in tetrahydrofuran or toluene under reflux. This extension of the Stille cross-coupling reaction realizes a new and economical method for the generation of C-C bonds. The palladium-catalyzed carbonylative Stille cross-coupling reactions of arenesulfonyl chlorides and organostannanes in the presence of CO (60 bar) at 110 degrees C in toluene generate the corresponding ketones. Arenesulfonyl chlorides are more reactive than aryl chlorides and aryl bromides in their Stille cross-coupling with organostannanes but less reactive than aryl iodides. The new methods disclosed for the generation of C-C bonds open new possibilities for medicinal chemistry and material sciences.

Synthesis and glycosidase inhibitory activities of 2-(aminoalkyl)pyrrolidine-3,4-diol derivatives

Several 2-(aminomethyl)-and 2-(2-aminoethyl)-pyrrolidine-3,4-diol derivatives have been assayed for their inhibitory activities towards glycosidases. Good inhibitors of alpha-mannosidases must have the (2R,3R,4S) configuration and possess 2-(benzylamino)methyl substituents. Stereomers with the (2S,3R,4S) configuration are also competitive inhibitors of alpha-mannosidases, but less potent as they share the configuration of C(1), C(2), C(3) of beta-D-mannosides rather than that of alpha-D-mannosides. Interestingly, (2S,3R,4S)-2-[2-[(4-phenyl)phenylamino]ethyl]pyrrolidine-3,4-diol (12g) inhibits several enzymes, for instance alpha-L-fucosidase from bovine epididymis (K(i)=6.5microM, competitive), alpha-galactosidase from bovine liver (K(i)=5microM, mixed) and alpha-mannosidase from jack bean (K(i)=102microM, mixed). Diamines such as (2R,3S,4R)-2-[2-(phenylamino) or 2-(benzylamino)ethyl]pyrrolidine-3,4-diol (ent-12a, ent-12b) inhibit beta-glucosidase from almonds (K(i)=13-40microM, competitive).

The Hetero-Diels–Alder Addition of Sulfur Dioxide: The Pseudo-Chair Conformation of a 4,5-Dialkylsultine

Even unsubstituted butadiene adds to sulfur dioxide in the hetero-Diels-Alder mode more rapidly than in the chelotropic mode. The sultine can be observed in equilibrium with the diene and the sulfur dioxide only at low temperature and in the presence of CF(3)COOH. Crystals of 4,5-dialkyl-sultine resulting from the SO(2) addition to 1,2-dimethylidenecyclohexane have been obtained at -100 degrees C and analyzed by X-ray diffraction. Quantum chemical calculations have shown that hyperconjugative interactions within the sulfinyl moiety are responsible for the anomeric effects observed in sultines that prefer pseudo-chair conformations with pseudo-axial Sdbond;O bonds.

Synthesis of enantiomerically pure 1,2-diamine derivatives of 7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane. New leads as glycosidase inhibitors and rigid scaffolds for the preparation of peptide analogues

Enantiomerically pure alcohols (-)- and (+)-7-tert-butoxycarbonyl-6-endo-p-toluenesulfonyl-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-en-5-endo-ol ((-)-11 and (+)-11) have been obtained from the Diels-Alder adduct of N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)pyrroel and 2-bromo-1-p-toluenesulfonylacetylene, including a resolution method. These two alcohols were converted into (+)- and (-)-5-exo-amino-7-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2,3-exo-isopropylidenedioxy-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane ((+)-18 and (-)-18) and (+)- and (-)-5-endo-amino-7-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2,3-exo-isopropylidenedioxy-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane ((+)-19 and (-)-19) after adequate functionalization and desulfonylation steps. The corresponding conformationally constrained bicyclic 1,2-diamines (+)-4, (-)-4, (+/-)-5, (+/-)-6, (+)-7, and (-)-7 were obtained from the protected precursors 18 and 19 and evaluated as glycosidase inhibitors. Diamines (+)-4, (-)-4, (+)-6, and (-)-6 can be seen as new nonpeptide molecular scaffolds for the design of peptide analogues.

Cardiomyopathy associated with angiomatous pheochromocytoma in a rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta)

A 24-year-old female rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) presented with a clinical history of chronic heart disease and prolonged recovery from sedation and anesthesia. At necropsy, the heart was markedly enlarged, with thinned ventricular walls, dilated chambers, and severe left atrioventricular valvular insufficiency. The ventricular walls contained numerous narrow, pale, often coalescing streaks that often extended along vessels into the deeper myocardium. Histologically, bands of interstitial fibrosis in the heart were associated with areas of myofiber atrophy, myofibril degeneration and loss, and inflammation. The left adrenal gland contained a 2 x 1 x 0.5 cm tumor with an unusual angiomatous pattern consisting largely of blood-filled sinusoids lined by one to four layers of low cuboidal to polyhedral tumor cells. In most sinusoids, the tumor cells appeared to be in direct contact with blood, although endothelial cells lined some sinusoids. Ultrastructurally, the tumor cells contained abundant electron-dense cytoplasmic granules. These granules were argyrophilic by Sevier-Munger staining and intensely immunoreactive for synaptophysin, chromogranin A, neuron-specific enolase, and S-100. These findings helped confirm the diagnosis of angiomatous pheochromocytoma. The heart lesions match those reported for catecholamine cardiomyopathy in other species.