Evidence for a Trianion Intermediate in the Metalation of 4-Hydroxy-6,7-dimethoxy-8-methyl-2-naphthoic Acid. Methodology and Application to Racemic 5,5′-Didesisopropyl-5,5′-dialkylapogossypol Derivatives

HFIP-promoted Michael reactions: direct para-selective C-H activation of anilines with maleimides

The Michael reaction is widely used for the C-C coupling of electron-poor olefins and C(sp3)-H pronucleophiles. Herein, an effective Michael reaction approach between electron-rich aromatic and heteroaromatic substrates as C(sp2)-H nucleophiles with maleimides as electrophiles in 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP) was first presented without the need for any additional metal catalysts or reagents. This reaction provides a concise and environmentally friendly strategy for the facile construction of 3-aryl succinimides from N,N-disubstituted anilines and maleimides with high para selectivity.

Recent advances in gossypol derivatives and analogs: a chemistry and biology view

Gossypol as a natural occurring polyphenol has been studied in a wide range of therapeutic contexts for a long time. The chemical modifications on gossypol were limited due to the unique chemical properties of polyphenols. The design and synthesis of gossypol derivatives and the exploration of their biological activities are the interest of the synthetic chemists, medicinal chemists and pharmacologists. Thus, the progress of diverse gossypol derivatives and analogs' synthesis, biological activities, mechanism elucidation and drug discovery based on gossypol scaffold is summarized.

Electronic effect of terminal acceptor groups on different organic donor–acceptor small-molecule based memory devices

Three conjugated organic donor–acceptor small-molecules BCZ-BT, BCZ-NO2 and BCZ-CN with different electronic effects in their terminal acceptors were designed and synthesized and their application in memory devices with a sandwich configuration was tested.

Amino acid and water-driven tunable green protocol to access S–S/C–S bonds via aerobic oxidative coupling and hydrothiolation

Arginine in conjunction with water has been employed as an effective and recyclable organocatalyst for oxidative coupling of thiophenols and hydrothiolation of alkynes.

Selectivity in C-alkylation of dianions of protected 6-methyluridine

A regioselective synthesis of 6-ω-alkenyluridines 3, precursors of potent antiviral and antitumor cyclonucleosides 5, is described. While ω-alkenyl halides do not alkylate 6-lithiouridine, compounds 3 were prepared in a regioselective manner by sequential treatment of 6-methyluridine 2 with LTMP or LDA (4 equiv) in THF at -30 °C followed by alkylation with ω-alkenyl bromides.