Organocatalytic (1+4)-Annulations of MBH Adducts with Electron-Deficient Systems

Benefited from the rapid development of MBH reaction, the reaction of MBH adducts have been established as the most synthetically useful transformations. However, compared with the well-established allylic alkylations and (3+2)-annulations, the (1+4)-annulations of MBH adducts have not developed rapidly until recently. As a helpful complement to the (3+2)-annulations of MBH adducts, the (1+4)-annulations of MBH adducts opens a robust access to structurally diverse five-membered carbo- and heterocycles. This paper summarizes recent advances in organocatalytic (1+4)-annulations using MBH adducts as 1 C-synthons for the construction of functionalized five-membered carbo- and heterocycles.

A New MBH Adduct as an Efficient Ligand in the Synthesis of Metallodrugs: Characterization, Geometrical Optimization, XRD, Biological Activities, and Molecular Docking Studies

This article reports the synthesis, characterization, geometrical optimization, and biological studies of new MBH-based organometallic compounds of medicinal significance. The ligand (MNHA) was prepared via the Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) synthetic route, from aromatic aldehyde containing multiple functional groups. Metal complexes were prepared in an alkaline medium and under other suitable reaction conditions. Spectral and elemental analyses were used to identify the structural and molecular formulas of each compound. Optimized geometry was determined through density functional theory (DFT) B3LYP and 6-311++ G (d,p) basis set for the MBH adduct, whereas structures of novel complexes were optimized with the semi-empirical PM6 method. Powder XRD analysis furnished the crystal class of complexes, with Co³⁺, Cr³⁺, and Mn²⁺ being cubic, while Ni²⁺ was hexagonal, and Cu²⁺ was orthorhombic. Moreover, the ligand, along with Ni²⁺ and Co³⁺ complexes, showed profound antibacterial action against S. aureus, E. coli, B. pumilis, and S. typhi. Additionally, all of the complexes were shown to persist in the positive antioxidant potential of the ligand. Contrarily, not a single metal complex conserved the antifungal potentials of the ligand.