Catalytic Asymmetric Conjugate Protosilylation and Protoborylation of 2-Trifluoromethyl Enynes for Synthesis of Functionalized Allenes.

The Cu-catalyzed 1,4-protosilylation and protoborylation of trifluoromethyl-substituted conjugated enynes were developed to access functionalized homoallenylsilanes and homoallenylboronates. This protocol also provides a general method to synthesize optically active homoallenylsilanes and homoallenylboronates in moderate to excellent yields with high enantiomeric excess by using new designed chiral bisoxazoline ligands. Simultaneously, the transformations of homoallenylsilanes and homoallenylboronates were also explored to synthesize useful building blocks.

miR-223 induces retinal ganglion cells apoptosis and inflammation via decreasing HSP-70 in vitro and in vivo.

PURPOSE: Glaucoma is an eye disease characterized by the loss of peripheral vision, high pressure in the eye, optic nerve damage, and the loss of peripheral vision due to loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). A number of miRNA have been detected in the pathogenesis of glaucoma. The paper was to focus on the miR-223 in RGCs apoptosis and inflammation, and investigated the possible mechanisms in vitro and in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After miR-223 inhibitor and mimics transfected into RGCs, the expression of miR-223 was detected by QRT-PCR, cell proliferation were performed by CCK-8 and EdU assays, cell apoptosis were measured by flow cytometer and TUNEL assays, apoptosis and inflammation -related proteins were detected by western blot, and whether miR-223 target to HSP-70 was detected by Luciferease reporter assay. Moreover, the effects si-HSP-70 on RGCs or RGCs transfected with miR-223 inhibitor were detected. In vivo study. New Zealand White rabbits (20 females) were used to detect the effect of miR-223 on the rabbit glaucoma model induced by injection of carbomer. RESULTS: CCK-8 and EdU assays demonstrated that miR-223 mimics decreased RGCs proliferation. FITC-Annexin V/PI Apoptosis and TUNEL assays showed that miR-223 mimics induced RGCs apoptosis. Western blot revealed that miR-223 mimics enhanced the expression of relative apoptosis and inflammation factors. Further, we demonstrated that miR-223 could inhibit cell proliferation, induce cell apoptosis as well as inflammation by targeting HSP-70 in RGCs. Moreover, the results were confirmed in rabbit glaucoma model. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, miR-223 plays a vital role in RGCs by regulating HSP-70 expression, and the new therapeutic strategy might potentially contribute to benefit glaucoma treatment.

Copper-Catalyzed Asymmetric Silylation of Propargyl Dichlorides: Access to Enantioenriched Functionalized Allenylsilanes.

A copper-catalyzed silylation of propargyl dichlorides was developed to access chloro-substituted allenylsilanes under mild reaction conditions. Moreover, enantioenriched chloro-substituted allenylsilanes can be synthesized in moderate to high yields and good enantioselectivities with this protocol.

Copper-catalyzed silylation reactions of propargyl epoxides: easy access to 2,3-allenols and stereodefined alkenes.

Efficient silylation reactions of propargyl epoxides catalyzed by copper catalysts have been developed. Under mild reaction conditions, tri- and tetra-substituted functionalized allenols and alkenes could be selectively obtained in moderate to high yields via tuning the bases and solvents used in the reactions. This work provides straightforward and efficient approaches to the synthesis of multifunctionalized 2,3-allenols and stereodefined alkenes from the same starting material of propargyl epoxides.

Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of enamides with sterically hindered α-bromocarbonyls.

Palladium-catalyzed intermolecular alkylation of enamides with α-bromo carbonyls was developed. Under mild reaction conditions, various cyclic and acyclic enamides reacted well with α-bromo carbonyls to afford the corresponding multi-substituted alkene products in good yields. The coupling products could be converted into very useful γ-amino acid, δ-amino alcohol, 1,4-dicarbonyl and γ-lactam derivatives.

Synthesis of Highly Substituted Racemic and Enantioenriched Allenylsilanes via Copper-Catalyzed Hydrosilylation of (Z)-2-Alken-4-ynoates with Silylboronate.

Copper-catalyzed highly efficient hydrosilylation reaction of enynoates was developed. Under simple reaction conditions, various di-, tri-, and tetrasubstituted racemic allene products could be obtained in high yields. The asymmetric 1,6-addition of silyl group to the (Z)-2-alken-4-ynoates could be achieved under mild reaction conditions to afford the silyl-substituted enantioenriched chiral allene products in good yields and with high enantioselectivities.