β-Amino alcohols derived from (1R,2S)-norephedrine and (1S,2S)-pseudonorephedrine as catalysts in the asymmetric addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes

Camphor nitroimine: a key building block in unusual transformations and its applications in the synthesis of bioactive compounds

The development of new drugs requires a lot of time and high financial investments. It involves a research network in which there is the participation of several researchers from different areas. For a new drug to reach the market, thousands of substances must be evaluated. There are several tools for this and the use of suitable building blocks can facilitate the process by allowing a lead compound to have suitable parameters. These compounds are key structures containing special functional groups that also permit adequate synthetic transformations, leading to several structures of interest in a short period of time. In this review, the use of camphor nitroimine as a potential key building block is explored. Derived from camphor, an abundant natural product present in various plant species, this nitroimine has proved to be quite versatile, allowing the access to substances with miscellaneous biological activities, ligands to asymmetric catalysis, asymmetric oxidants, O-N transfer agents and other applications. Its easy conversion to camphecene and other derivatives is described, as well as their applications in medicinal chemistry. Druglikeness analyses were performed on these studied agents as well as on their bioactive derivatives in order to assess their use in the development of potential drugs.

A Review of the Ephedra genus: Distribution, Ecology, Ethnobotany, Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Properties

Ephedra is one of the largest genera of the Ephedraceae family, which is distributed in arid and semiarid regions of the world. In the traditional medicine from several countries some species from the genus are commonly used to treat asthma, cold, flu, chills, fever, headache, nasal congestion, and cough. The chemical constituents of Ephedra species have been of research interest for decades due to their contents of ephedrine-type alkaloids and its pharmacological properties. Other chemical constituents such as phenolic and amino acid derivatives also have resulted attractive and have provided evidence-based supporting of the ethnomedical uses of the Ephedra species. In recent years, research has been expanded to explore the endophytic fungal diversity associated to Ephedra species, as well as, the chemical constituents derived from these fungi and their pharmacological bioprospecting. Two additional aspects that illustrate the chemical diversity of Ephedra genus are the chemotaxonomy approaches and the use of ephedrine-type alkaloids as building blocks in organic synthesis. American Ephedra species, especially those that exist in Mexico, are considered to lack ephedrine type alkaloids. In this sense, the phytochemical study of Mexican Ephedra species is a promising area of research to corroborate their ephedrine-type alkaloids content and, in turn, discover new chemical compounds with potential biological activity. Therefore, the present review represents a key compilation of all the relevant information for the Ephedra genus, in particular the American species, the species distribution, their ecological interactions, its ethnobotany, its phytochemistry and their pharmacological activities and toxicities, in order to promote clear directions for future research.

2,6-Dimethyl-4-oxo-3-oxatri-cyclo-[5.2.1.0(2,6)]decane-1-carboxamide

In the title compound, C12H17NO3, which was synthesized by Wagner-Meerwein rearrangement of the N-nitro-imine, the ring-junction C-C bond length is comparatively long [1.573 (2) Å] due to a steric repulsion between the methyl groups at these atoms, which also leads to an increase in the C-C-C angles along this C4 chain [118.10 (13) and 115.04 (15) °, respectively]. In the crystal, N-H⋯O-C and N-H⋯O=C hydrogen bonds are formed between the amide group and the two O-atom acceptors of the lactone group, forming a chain along [001].

Carbon dioxide as a carbonylating agent in the synthesis of 2-oxazolidinones, 2-oxazinones, and cyclic ureas: scope and limitations

Carbon dioxide can be used as a convenient carbonylating agent in the synthesis of 2-oxazolidinones, 2-oxazinones, and cyclic ureas. The transient carbamate anion generated by treating a primary or secondary amine group in basic media can be activated with phosphorylating agents such as Diphenylphosphoryl azide (DPPA) and Diphenyl chlorophosphate (DPPCl) but also with other types of electrophiles such as SOCl(2), TsCl, or AcCl. The intramolecular trapping of the activated carbamate by a hydroxyl group leads to the formation of 2-oxazolidinones or 2-oxazinones in good to excellent yields. This methodology was successfully applied to the synthesis of cyclic ureas up to 7-membered rings from the corresponding diamines.