A Strained Disilane-Promoted Carboxylation of Organic Halides with CO2 under Transition-Metal-Free Conditions

The In Vitro Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Selected Australian Seagrasses

Recent studies have shown that seagrasses could possess potential applications in the treatment of inflammatory disorders. Five seagrass species (Zostera muelleri, Halodule uninervis, Cymodocea rotundata, Syringodium isoetifolium, and Thalassia hemprichii) from the Great Barrier Reef (QLD, Australia) were thus collected, and their preliminary antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated. From the acetone extracts of five seagrass species subjected to 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging antioxidant assay, the extract of Z. muelleri had the highest activity (half minimal concentration of inhibition (IC50) = 138 µg/mL), with the aerial parts (IC50 = 119 µg/mL) possessing significantly higher antioxidant activity than the roots (IC50 ≥ 500 µg/mL). A human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) assay with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activation and LEGENDplex cytokine analysis showed that the aerial extract of Z. muelleri significantly reduced the levels of inflammatory cytokines tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 by 29%, 74%, and 90%, respectively, relative to the LPS treatment group. The aerial extract was thus fractionated with methanol (MeOH) and hexane fraction, and purification of the MeOH fraction by HPLC led to the isolation of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (1), luteolin (2), and apigenin (3) as its major constituents. These compounds have been previously shown to reduce levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 and represent some of the major bioactive components of Z. muelleri aerial parts. This investigation represents the first study of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Z. muelleri and the first isolation of small molecules from this species. These results highlight the potential for using seagrasses in treating inflammation and the need for further investigation.

Tuning the selectivity in iridium-catalyzed acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling of primary alcohols

An acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling of primary alcohols to carboxylic acids/carboxylates, esters, and Guerbet alcohols (via both homo- and cross-β-alkylation of the alcohols) in the presence of an N-heterocyclic carbene iridium(I) catalyst was developed under aerobic conditions. The product selectivity can be easily tuned among the products with a single catalyst through simple modification of the reaction conditions, such as the catalyst and base amounts, the choice of base, and the reaction temperature.

Practical method for hydroxyl-group protection using strontium metal and readily available silyl chlorides

We have found that the etherification of silyl-protected secondary alcohols proceeds smoothly in the presence of strontium metal using silyl chloride instead of the expensive, yet more reactive, and commonly used silyl triflate. The reaction occurred almost completely with various alcohols.

A general 11C-labeling approach enabled by fluoride-mediated desilylation of organosilanes

Carbon-11 (¹¹C) is one of the most ideal positron emitters for labeling bioactive molecules for molecular imaging studies. The lack of convenient and fast incorporation methods to introduce ¹¹C into organic molecules often hampers the use of this radioisotope. Here, a fluoride-mediated desilylation (FMDS) ¹¹C-labeling approach is reported. This method relies on thermodynamically favored Si-F bond formation to generate a carbanion, therefore enabling the highly efficient and speedy incorporation of [¹¹C]CO₂ and [¹¹C]CH₃I into molecules with diversified structures. It provides facile and rapid access to ¹¹C-labeled compounds with carbon-11 attached at various hybridized carbons as well as oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen atoms with broad functional group tolerance. The exemplified syntheses of several biologically and clinically important radiotracers illustrates the potentials of this methodology.

Convenient and fast methods to introduce ¹¹C into organic molecules are of great help for molecular imaging studies. Here, the authors developed an efficient incorporation of [¹¹C]CO₂ and [¹¹C]CH₃I into molecules via a fluoride-mediated desilylation process.

Recent progress in [11 C]carbon dioxide ([11 C]CO2 ) and [11 C]carbon monoxide ([11 C]CO) chemistry

[11 C]Carbon dioxide ([11 C]CO2 ) and [11 C]carbon monoxide ([11 C]CO) are 2 attractive precursors for labelling the carbonyl position (C═O) in a vast range of functionalised molecules (eg, ureas, amides, and carboxylic acids). The development of radiosynthetic methods to produce functionalised 11 C-labelled compounds is required to enhance the radiotracers available for positron emission tomography, molecular, and medical imaging applications. Following a brief summary of secondary 11 C-precursor production and uses, the review focuses on recent progress with direct 11 C-carboxylation routes with [11 C]CO2 and 11 C-carbonylation with [11 C]CO. Novel approaches to generate [11 C]CO using CO-releasing molecules (CO-RMs), such as silacarboxylic acids and disilanes, applied to radiochemistry are described and compared with standard [11 C]CO production methods. These innovative [11 C]CO synthesis strategies represent efficient and reliable [11 C]CO production processes, enabling the widespread use of [11 C]CO chemistry within the wider radiochemistry community.

Enantioselective synthesis of β-amino acid derivatives via nickel-promoted regioselective carboxylation of ynamides and rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation

We succeeded in the development of a new method for enantioselective synthesis of α-substituted-β-amino acid derivatives. Thus, nickel(0)-promoted carboxylation of ynamide gave the α-substituted-β-aminoacrylate derivative in a highly regioselective manner. Then, rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of the α-substituted β-aminoacrylate produced the corresponding α-substituted β-amino acid derivative as an optically active form.

One-pot synthesis of propynoates and propynenitriles

An efficient transformation towards propynoates and propynenitriles is herein described. The practical methodology was conducted at low temperature (–78 or –60 °C) in a one-pot manner with the assistance of base rather than any transition metal catalysts. The base-induced protocol exhibits good functional group tolerance (up to 28 examples) and high efficiency (up to 92% yields) towards substituted acetylenes of great synthetic significance, which was also well demonstrated by the gram-scale reactions.

Carboxylation of styrenes with CBr4and DMSO via cooperative photoredox and cobalt catalysis

Cooperative photoredox and cobalt catalyzed carboxylation of styrenes with CBr₄to afford the corresponding α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids has been realized through radical addition and Kornblum (DMSO) oxidation.

CsF-promoted carboxylation of aryl(hetaryl) terminal alkynes with atmospheric CO2 at room temperature

A CsF-promoted carboxylation of aryl(hetaryl) terminal alkynes with atmospheric CO₂ in the presence of trimethylsilylacetylene at room temperature was developed.

Chemical reduction of CO2facilitated by C-nucleophiles

This feature article describes recent advances in chemical reduction of CO₂facilitated by carbon-based molecular nucleophiles.

Metal-Catalyzed Carboxylation of Organic (Pseudo)halides with CO2

The recent years have witnessed the development of metal-catalyzed reductive carboxylation of organic (pseudo)halides with CO₂ as C1 source, representing potential powerful alternatives to existing methodologies for preparing carboxylic acids, privileged motifs in a myriad of pharmaceuticals and molecules displaying significant biological properties. While originally visualized as exotic cross-coupling reactions, a close look into the literature data indicates that these processes have become a fertile ground, allowing for the utilization of a variety of coupling partners, even with particularly challenging substrate combinations. As for other related cross-electrophile scenarios, the vast majority of reductive carboxylation of organic (pseudo)halides are characterized by their simplicity, mild conditions, and a broad functional group compatibility, suggesting that these processes could be implemented in late-stage diversification. This perspective describes the evolution of metal-catalyzed reductive carboxylation of organic (pseudo)halides from its inception in the pioneering stoichiometric work of Osakada to the present. Specific emphasis is devoted to the reactivity of these coupling processes, with substrates ranging from aryl-, vinyl-, benzyl- to unactivated alkyl (pseudo)halides. Despite the impressive advances realized, a comprehensive study detailing the mechanistic intricacies of these processes is still lacking. Some recent empirical evidence reveal an intriguing dichotomy exerted by the substitution pattern on the ligands utilized; still, however, some elementary steps within the catalytic cycle of these reactions remain speculative, in many instances invoking a canonical cross-coupling process. Although tentative, we anticipate that these processes might fall into more than one distinct mechanistic category depending on the substrate utilized, suggesting that investigations aimed at unraveling the mechanistic underpinnings of these processes will likely bring new and innovative research grounds in this vibrant area of expertise.