Concise Synthesis of Dimethyl (2-Oxopropyl)phosphonate and Homologation of Aldehydes to Alkynes in a Tandem Process

Chemistry of phosphorylated formaldehyde derivatives. Part I

The underinvestigated derivatives of unstable phosphorylated formaldehyde acetals and some of the structurally related compounds, such as thioacetals, aminonitriles, aminomethylphosphinoyl compounds, are considered. Separately considered are halogen aminals of phosphorylated formaldehyde, acetals of phosphorylated formaldehyde of H-phosphinate-type and a phosphorylated gem-diol of formaldehyde. Synthetic methods, chemical properties and examples of practical applications are given.

Concise total syntheses of aspalathin and nothofagin

Syntheses of the C-glycosyl flavone natural products aspalathin and nothofagin have been accomplished in eight steps from tribenzyl glucal, tribenzylphloroglucinol, and either 4-(benzyloxy)phenylacetylene or 3,4-bis(benzyloxy)phenylacetylene. The key step of the syntheses involves a highly stereoselective Lewis acid promoted coupling of 1,2-di-O-acyl-3,4,6-tribenzylglucose with tribenzylphloroglucinol, which gives rise to the corresponding beta-C-aryl glycoside in 30-65% yields.

Calcitriol derivatives with two different side chains at C-20. V. Potent inhibitors of mammary carcinogenesis and inducers of leukemia differentiation

Calcitriol is implicated in many cellular functions including cellular growth and differentiation, thus explaining its antitumor effects. It was shown that gemini, the calcitriol derivative containing two side chain at C20, is also active in gene transcription with enhanced antitumor activity. We have now further optimized both the A-ring and the two side chains. The chemical structures of the resulting 18 geminis were correlated with biological activities. Those containing the 1alpha-fluoro A-ring are the least active. Those featuring 23-yne and 23(E) side-chains are generally more active in human breast cancer cell growth inhibition and human leukemia cell differentiation induction than their 23(Z) counterparts. On the basis of these evaluations, we selected as lead compound a 20(R) gemini, related to calcitriol in terms of it is A-ring, where one side chain was modified by introduction of a 23-yne function and replacement of the geminal methyl groups with trifluoromethyl groups, the other created by extension of C21 with a 3-hydroxy-3-trideuteromethyl-4,4,4-trideutero-butyl moiety.