Synthesis of Plakortolides E and I Enabled by Base Metal Catalysis

A protecting-group-free synthesis of two endoperoxide natural products, plakortolide E and plakortolide I, is reported. Key steps are a vanadium-mediated epoxidation, an iron-catalyzed allylic substitution, and a cobalt-induced endoperoxide formation. Our approach combines chemoselective bond-forming reactions and one-pot operations to forge an overall efficient synthesis.

Palladium-Catalyzed Direct C-H Arylation of 3-Butenoic Acid Derivatives

We report herein a direct method to synthesize 4-aryl-3-butenoic acid through a carboxylic-acid-directed oxidative Heck reaction. The various 4-aryl-3-butenoic acids are easily prepared in moderate to good yields. In view of the promising bioactivity of 4-phenyl-3-butenoic acid previously reported, its derivatives reported here may be bioactive.

Visible-light-induced cascade sulfonylation/cyclization of N-propargylindoles with aryldiazonium tetrafluoroborates via the insertion of sulfur dioxide

A simple and efficient visible-light-catalyzed cascade sulfonylation/cyclization of N-propargylindoles with K₂S₂O₅ and aryldiazonium tetrafluoroborates for the construction of 2-sulfonyl-substituted 9H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]indoles is developed.

Palladium-catalyzed direct arylation of indoles with arylsulfonyl hydrazides

A novel method to synthesise 2-arylindoles is demonstrated via direct arylation of indoles with arylsulfonyl hydrazides. Under the optimized reaction conditions, the reaction well tolerates a wide variety of functional groups to afford structurally diverse 2-arylindoles in good to excellent yields at 70 °C.

Discovery of New Monocarbonyl Ligustrazine-Curcumin Hybrids for Intervention of Drug-Sensitive and Drug-Resistant Lung Cancer

The elevation of oxidative stress preferentially in cancer cells by inhibiting thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) and/or enhancing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production has emerged as an effective strategy for selectively targeting cancer cells. In this study, we designed and synthesized 21 ligustrazine-curcumin hybrids (10a-u). Biological evaluation indicated that the most active compound 10d significantly inhibited the proliferation of drug-sensitive (A549, SPC-A-1, LTEP-G-2) and drug-resistant (A549/DDP) lung cancer cells but had little effect on nontumor lung epithelial-like cells (HBE). Furthermore, 10d suppressed the TrxR/Trx system and promoted intracellular ROS accumulation and cancer cell apoptosis. Additionally, 10d inhibited the NF-κB, AKT, and ERK signaling, P-gp-mediated efflux of rhodamine 123, P-gp ATPase activity, and P-gp expression in A549/DDP cells. Finally, 10d repressed the growth of implanted human drug-resistant lung cancer in mice. Together, 10d acts a novel TrxR inhibitor and may be a promising candidate for intervention of lung cancer.

Palladium-catalyzed C-3 desulfitative arylation of indolizines with sodium arylsulfinates and arylsulfonyl hydrazides

Derivatized indolizines were efficiently prepared by direct C-3 arylation of indolizines using sodium arylsulfinates and arylsulfonyl hydrazides in good yields.

Open-air oxidative Mizoroki–Heck reaction of arylsulfonyl hydrazides with alkenes

A palladium(ii)-catalyzed oxidative Mizoroki–Heck reaction of arylsulfonyl hydrazides with alkenes was developed employing Pd(OAc)₂ and pyridine ligand L9 as a catalyst system and ​atmospheric air as the sole oxidant in an open-vessel manner.

Synthesis of β,β-diaryl propiophenones via palladium-catalyzed domino arylboronation, elimination and enone hydroarylation of enaminones

The first example of a domino reaction involving enaminone C–N conversion-based arylation has been realized as an efficient new route toward the synthesis of β,β-diaryl propiophenones.

Desulfitative Pd-catalysed coupling reaction using benzenesulfonyl chlorides and enones as the coupling partners

The reaction of benzenesulfonyl chlorides with some enones in the presence of a palladium catalyst affords the conjugate addition products instead of the expected Heck type products.

Palladium-catalyzed Hiyama coupling reaction of arylsulfonyl hydrazides under oxygen

Palladium-catalyzed Hiyama cross-coupling reactions of various arylsulfonyl hydrazides with a wide variety of aryl silanes have been achieved in good to excellent yields under simple aerobic conditions.

Pd-catalyzed desulfitative and denitrogenative Suzuki-type reaction of arylsulfonyl hydrazides

A Pd-catalyzed desulfitative–denitrogenative coupling of arylsulfonyl hydrazides and arylboronic acids with the assistance of catalytic ligands is described. The reaction showed very good selectivity and tolerated a wide range of functionalities.