Short TI inversion-recovery imaging of the liver: pulse-sequence optimization and comparison with spin-echo imaging

Magnitude-reconstructed short inversion-time (TI) inversion-recovery (IR) sequences have the advantage of reducing the signal of fat while providing additive T1 and T2 contrast. A double-echo short TI IR sequence was implemented to offer different degrees of T1- and T2-dependent image contrast. In 50 consecutive patients with proved liver tumors (30 metastases, 13 hemangiomas, seven other primary liver tumors), images obtained with a double-echo IR sequence at a repetition time (TR) of 1,500 msec, echo time (TE) of 30 and 60 msec, and TI of 80 msec (TR/TE/TI = 1,500/30, 60/80) were compared with those obtained with spin-echo (SE) sequences at a TR of 275 msec and a TE of 14 msec (TR/TE = 275/14) and 2,350/60, 120, 180. Metastases-liver contrast-to-noise ratios were highest at SE 275/14, followed by IR 1,500/30/80 and SE 2,350/180. IR 1,500/30/80 and SE 275/14 sequences consistently showed higher sensitivity for the detection of metastases than T2-weighted SE sequences. Differential diagnosis of benign and malignant lesions was more reliable with T2-weighted SE sequences than T2-weighted short TI IR sequences.

Dissecting the Gold(I)-Catalyzed Carboaminations of N-Allyl Tetrahydro-β-carbolines to Allenes

N-Allyl tetrahydro-β-carbolines undergo gold-catalyzed cyclizations that lead to tetracyclic compounds, resulting from both ring closure and the transfer of the allylic group from the nitrogen to the carbon backbone. The final skeleton obtained depends on the nature of both the R² group of the allene and the R³ group of the allylic residue. Mechanistic studies and DFT calculations allowed the determination of all the mechanistic pathways involved in these processes, stemming from a common intermediate that evolves differently according to the substituents nature.

Nickel-Catalyzed Enantioselective Synthesis of Pre-Differentiated Homoallylic syn- or anti-1,2-Diols from Aldehydes and Dienol Ethers

Nickel catalysis allied with cyclodiphosphazane or VAPOL-derived phosphoramidite ligands provides selective access to monoprotected vicinal diols by reductive coupling of dienol ethers and aldehydes. The observed regioselectivity is unprecedented, in that the diene reacts at the least nucleophilic and most hindered C atom that is attached to the oxygen substituent rather than at the terminal position. Notably, both syn and anti diastereomers of the products can be accessed depending on the configuration of the diene partner with usually excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivity.

Formation of Substituted Benzocyclobutenes Starting from Donor-Acceptor Cyclopropanes

We describe an operationally simple, good-yielding, two-step cascade process to convert biscyclopropanes 1 into high-value benzocyclobutene building blocks 3. This study highlights the novel reactivity of our "in-house" donor-acceptor cyclopropane, achieving complete diastereoselectivity and regioselectivity transfer.