Pentaleno[1,2-c]pyrroles: Tricyclic 5/5/5 Fused Rings.

A novel method for the preparation of tetrahydropentaleno[1,2-c]pyrroles (8) is described via the reaction of anilines with 1-en-4-yn-3-ols in the presence of Lewis acid. Oxidation of 8 with Br2 gave pentaleno[1,2-c]pyrroles (10), which is the first reported tricyclic 5/5/5 ring with a fully conjugated system. Structures of these obtained compounds were characterized by spectroscopic methods, and compounds 8a,b and 10c were further confirmed by X-ray crystallographic determination.

[Characteristics of acupuncture in Shanghan Lun (Treatise on Febrile Diseases)].

Through summarization and analysis on etiology, pathology and acupoint selection in chapters about acupuncture in Shanghan Lun (Treatise on Febrile Diseases), written by ZHANG Zhong-jing, famous physician of the Eastern Han Dynasty, five features of acupuncture in the book are concluded: to cut off the pathway of pathogenic factors to prevent progress of diseases; to adopt both acupuncture and herbal medicine to give full play to their respective advantages in treatment; to distinguish pathogenesis carefully and select the proper acupoints; to observe the progressing tendency of diseases to give treatment accordingly; and to understand that yang channels are appropriate for acupuncture, while yin channels can also be selected in treatment. In this way, the law of acupuncture of ZHANG Zhong-jing is expected to be better understood.