Sequential Pd(0)-catalyzed reactions for the construction of multiple substituted furans. A short synthesis of the F5 furan fatty acid1a

A biosynthetically inspired route to substituted furans using the Appel reaction: total synthesis of the furan fatty acid F5

Appel reaction conditions have been harnessed to affect a mild biosynthetically inspired dehydration of endoperoxides to deliver multi-substituted electron rich furans. Unlike traditional dehydrative procedures, this method is metal and acid free, and can be achieved under redox neutral conditions. It is general for a range of aryl and alkyl substituted endoperoxides, and is functional group tolerant. Furthermore, this procedure has been used to deliver an effective total synthesis of the furan fatty acid (FFA) F₅.

NB 06: From a simple lysosomotropic aSMase inhibitor to tools for elucidating the role of lysosomes in signaling apoptosis and LPS-induced inflammation

Ceramide generation is involved in signal transduction of cellular stress response, in particular during stress-induced apoptosis in response to stimuli such as minimally modified Low-density lipoproteins, TNFalpha and exogenous C₆-ceramide. In this paper we describe 48 diverse synthetic products and evaluate their lysosomotropic and acid sphingomyelinase inhibiting activities in macrophages. A stimuli-induced increase of C₁₆-ceramide in macrophages can be almost completely suppressed by representative compound NB 06 providing an effective protection of macrophages against apoptosis. Compounds like NB 06 thus offer highly interesting fields of application besides prevention of apoptosis of macrophages in atherosclerotic plaques in vessel walls. Most importantly, they can be used for blocking pH-dependent lysosomal processes and enzymes in general as well as for analyzing lysosomal dependent cellular signaling. Modulation of gene expression of several prominent inflammatory messengers IL1B, IL6, IL23A, CCL4 and CCL20 further indicate potentially beneficial effects in the field of (systemic) infections involving bacterial endotoxins like LPS or infections with influenza A virus.

Furan fatty acid as an anti-inflammatory component from the green-lipped mussel Perna canaliculus

A lipid extract of Perna canaliculus (New Zealand green-lipped mussel) has reportedly displayed anti-inflammatory effects in animal models and in human controlled studies. However, the anti-inflammatory lipid components have not been investigated in detail due to the instability of the lipid extract, which has made the identification of the distinct active components a formidable task. Considering the instability of the active component, we carefully fractionated a lipid extract of Perna canaliculus (Lyprinol) and detected furan fatty acids (F-acids). These naturally but rarely detected fatty acids show potent radical-scavenging ability and are essential constituents of plants and algae. Based on these data, it has been proposed that F-acids could be potential antioxidants, which may contribute to the protective properties of fish and fish oil diets against chronic inflammatory diseases. However, to date, in vivo data to support the hypothesis have not been obtained, presumably due to the limited availability of F-acids. To confirm the in vivo anti-inflammatory effect of F-acids in comparison with that of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), we developed a semisynthetic preparation and examined its anti-inflammatory activity in a rat model of adjuvant-induced arthritis. Indeed, the F-acid ethyl ester exhibited more potent anti-inflammatory activity than that of the EPA ethyl ester. We report on the in vivo activity of F-acids, confirming that the lipid extract of the green-lipped mussel includes an unstable fatty acid that is more effective than EPA.

Insights into the mechanism of the site-selective sequential palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of dibromothiophenes/dibromothiazoles and arylboronic acids. Synthesis of PPARbeta/delta agonists

A reactivity study, aided by NMR spectroscopy, allowed a mechanistic rationale to be postulated for the palladium-catalyzed regioselective coupling of arylboronic acid (and arylstannane where feasible) at the position next to the sulfur atom in functionalized dibromothiophenes and dibromothiazoles. The analysis of the NMR spectra (using 19F from the boronic acid CF3 group and 31P from the phosphine of the catalyst as probes) of the entire reaction starting from the dibromoheterocycles allowed the qualitative proposal that the transmetalation is the rate-limiting step for both sequential substitution processes. The extremely facile oxidative addition at the C-Br bond next to the sulfur atom of the heterocycle instead determines the positional selectivity. An additional Stille reaction then replaced the second halogen, providing the trisubstituted heterocyclic scaffolds of PPAR ligands, which displayed PPARbeta/delta agonist activity, as revealed by reporter assays in living cells.

Furan fatty acids: occurrence, synthesis, and reactions. Are furan fatty acids responsible for the cardioprotective effects of a fish diet?

Furan FA (F-acids) are tri- or tetrasubstituted furan derivatives characterized by either a propyl or pentyl side chain in one of the alpha-positions; the other is substituted by a straight long-chain saturated acid with a carboxylic group at its end. F-acids are generated in large amounts in algae, but they are also produced by plants and microorganisms. Fish and other marine organisms as well as mammals consume F-acids in their food and incorporate them into phospholipids and cholesterol esters. F-acids are catabolized to dibasic urofuran acids, which are excreted in the urine. The biogenetic precursor of the most abundant F-acid, F6, is linoleic acid. Methyl groups in the beta-position are derived from adenosylmethionine. Owing to the different alkyl substituents, synthesis of F-acids requires multistep reactions. F-acids react readily with peroxyl radicals to generate dioxoenes. The radical-scavenging ability of F-acids may contribute to the protective properties of fish and fish oil diets against mortality from heart disease.

A simple guide for predicting regioselectivity in the coupling of polyhaloheteroaromatics

A simple guide for predicting the order and site of coupling (Suzuki, Stille, Negishi, Sonogashira, etc.) in polyhaloheteroaromatics based upon the (1)H NMR chemical shift values of the parent non-halogenated heteroaromatics has been developed.

Effect of adjacent chiral tertiary and quaternary centers on the metal-catalyzed allylic substitution reaction

The metal-catalyzed allylic substitution reaction of 5a,b and 6a was examined. Reaction with stabilized nucleophiles led to exclusive attack at the less-hindered allylic terminus, and the stereoselectivity varied with the bidentate ligand used but favored retention. The yields and reaction times were improved with the use of microwaves. Alkylation via transmetalation was only observed with phenyl- and vinylstannatranes and gave regio- and stereoselectivity opposite those observed with the stabilized anions. The epimeric carbonates 5a and 5b displayed very different reactivities. Catalysts containing metals other than palladium were completely unreactive and led to recovered starting material.

Regioselective synthesis of 3-alkynyl-5-bromo-2-pyrones via Pd-catalyzed couplings on 3,5-dibromo-2-pyrone

[reaction: see text] 3,5-Dibromo-2-pyrone underwent facile Pd(0)-catalyzed coupling reactions with various alkynes to give rise to the corresponding 3-alkynyl-5-bromo-2-pyrones with good to excellent chemical yields and regioselectivity.