Early Organic Chemistry in Kyiv: Serhii Mykolayovych Reformatskyi (1860-1934) and his Name Reaction

Serhiy Mykolayovych Reformatskyi, [Ukrainian: Рeφopмaтcьκий, Cepгiй Mиκoлaйoвич; Russian: Sergei Nikolaevich Reformatskii, РeΦopмaтcκий, Cepгeй Hиκoлaeвич (1860-1934)] was a product of Zaitsev's laboratory in Kazan Imperial University in Russia and one of the founding fathers of organic chemistry in Ukraine. He discovered his eponymous reaction while a graduate student in Kazan under Zaitsev, studying the synthesis of homoallylic alcohols. He modified this reaction by replacing the olefinic π bond of an allyl halide with a carbonyl group. In the prototype reaction, he treated ethyl haloacetates with zinc and aldehydes or ketones. The reaction gave the corresponding β-hydroxyesters and remains an important synthetic method. Work on the reaction over the ensuing century and a quarter has led to the discovery of analogous reactions using a wide range of metals, and even permitting the use of water as a solvent.

Structural Revision of Baulamycin A and Structure-Activity Relationships of Baulamycin A Derivatives

Total synthesis of the proposed structure of baulamycin A was performed. The spectral properties of the synthetic compound differ from those reported for the natural product. On the basis of comprehensive NMR study, we proposed two other possible structures for natural baulamycin A. Total syntheses of these two substances were performed, which enabled assignment of the correct structure of baulamycin A. Key features of the convergent and fully stereocontrolled route include Evans Aldol and Brown allylation reactions to construct the left fragment, a prolinol amide-derived alkylation/desymmetrization to install the methyl-substituted centers in the right fragment, and finally, a Carreira alkynylation to join both fragments. In addition, we have determined the inhibitory activities of novel baulamycin A derivatives against the enzyme SbnE. This SAR study provides useful insight into the design of novel SbnE inhibitors that overcome the drug resistance of pathogens, which cause life-threatening infections.