Synthesis of 3-acetonyl- and 3-(2-oxoethyl)glutarates

Reduction of aromatic nitriles into aldehydes using calcium hypophosphite and a nickel precursor

Herein we report the reduction of aromatic nitriles into aldehydes with calcium hypophosphite in the presence of base and nickel(ii) complex in a water/ethanol mixture. This catalytic system reduced efficiently a series of aromatic nitriles bearing different functional groups such as -Cl, -CF3, -Br, -CH3, -OCH3, -COOCH2CH3, -OH and -CHO. The corresponding aldehydes were isolated in moderate to excellent yields (30-94%).

Enantiopure Indolo[2,3-a]quinolizidines: Synthesis and Evaluation as NMDA Receptor Antagonists

Enantiopure tryptophanol is easily obtained from the reduction of its parent natural amino acid trypthophan (available from the chiral pool), and can be used as chiral auxiliary/inductor to control the stereochemical course of a diastereoselective reaction. Furthermore, enantiopure tryptophanol is useful for the syntheses of natural products or biological active molecules containing the aminoalcohol functionality. In this communication, we report the development of a small library of indolo[2,3-a]quinolizidines and evaluation of their activity as N-Methyl d-Aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists. The indolo[2,3-a]quinolizidine scaffold was obtained using the following key steps: (i) a stereoselective cyclocondensation of (S)- or (R)-tryptophanol with appropriate racemic δ-oxoesters; (ii) a stereocontrolled cyclization on the indole nucleus. The synthesized enantiopure indolo[2,3-a]quinolizidines were evaluated as NMDA receptor antagonists and one compound was identified to be 2.9-fold more potent as NMDA receptor blocker than amantadine (used in the clinic for Parkinson’s disease). This compound represents a hit compound for the development of novel NMDA receptor antagonists with potential applications in neurodegenerative disorders associated with overactivation of NMDA receptors.

Synthetic applications of hypophosphite derivatives in reduction

The purpose of this review is to collect the applications in fine synthesis of hypophosphite derivatives as reducing agents.

Synthesis and antiviral activities of synthetic glutarimide derivatives

A series of novel glutarimide compounds were synthesized and their antiviral activities were evaluated. The compounds displaying the strongest antiviral activities included 5, 6f, 7e and 9 against coxsackievirus B3 (Cox B3), 10 and 6f against influenza virus A (influenza A) and 7a against herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2). However, most of the synthetic glutarimides showed comparatively much weaker activity against influenza A, Cox B3 and HSV-2 than the natural glutarimide compounds tested. Based on the results, it seemed likely that a conjugated system at the β-substituted moiety provides stronger antiviral activity.