Total Synthesis of (-)-Piericone D.

The total synthesis of (-)-piericone D, a potential antithrombotic dihydrochalcone featuring an [3.3.0] octane core, is reported. Salient features of our synthesis include a stereoselective ß-O-glycosylation to install the asebogenin aglycone and a late-stage global deprotection followed by simultaneous lactonization. The convergent synthesis paved the way for further structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies of (-)-piericone D.

Desloratadine alleviates ALS-like pathology in hSOD1G93A mice via targeting 5HTR2A on activated spinal astrocytes.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease with progressive loss of motor neurons in the spinal cord, cerebral cortex and brain stem. ALS is characterized by gradual muscle atrophy and dyskinesia. The limited knowledge on the pathology of ALS has impeded the development of therapeutics for the disease. Previous studies have shown that autophagy and astrocyte-mediated neuroinflammation are involved in the pathogenesis of ALS, while 5HTR2A participates in the early stage of astrocyte activation, and 5HTR2A antagonism may suppress astrocyte activation. In this study, we evaluated the therapeutic effects of desloratadine (DLT), a selective 5HTR2A antagonist, in human SOD1G93A (hSOD1G93A) ALS model mice, and elucidated the underlying mechanisms. HSOD1G93A mice were administered DLT (20 mg·kg-1·d-1, i.g.) from the age of 8 weeks for 10 weeks or until death. ALS onset time and lifespan were determined using rotarod and righting reflex tests, respectively. We found that astrocyte activation accompanying with serotonin receptor 2 A (5HTR2A) upregulation in the spinal cord was tightly associated with ALS-like pathology, which was effectively attenuated by DLT administration. We showed that DLT administration significantly delayed ALS symptom onset time, prolonged lifespan and ameliorated movement disorders, gastrocnemius injury and spinal motor neuronal loss in hSOD1G93A mice. Spinal cord-specific knockdown of 5HTR2A by intrathecal injection of adeno-associated virus9 (AAV9)-si-5Htr2a also ameliorated ALS pathology in hSOD1G93A mice, and occluded the therapeutic effects of DLT administration. Furthermore, we demonstrated that DLT administration promoted autophagy to reduce mutant hSOD1 levels through 5HTR2A/cAMP/AMPK pathway, suppressed oxidative stress through 5HTR2A/cAMP/AMPK/Nrf2-HO-1/NQO-1 pathway, and inhibited astrocyte neuroinflammation through 5HTR2A/cAMP/AMPK/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway in the spinal cord of hSOD1G93A mice. In summary, 5HTR2A antagonism shows promise as a therapeutic strategy for ALS, highlighting the potential of DLT in the treatment of the disease. DLT as a 5HTR2A antagonist effectively promoted autophagy to reduce mutant hSOD1 level through 5HTR2A/cAMP/AMPK pathway, suppressed oxidative stress through 5HTR2A/cAMP/AMPK/Nrf2-HO-1/NQO-1 pathway, and inhibited astrocytic neuroinflammation through 5HTR2A/cAMP/AMPK/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway in the spinal cord of hSOD1G93A mice.

Desloratadine ameliorates paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy and hypersensitivity reactions in mice.

Paclitaxel (PTX) serves as a primary chemotherapy agent against diverse solid tumors including breast cancer, lung cancer, head and neck cancer and ovarian cancer, having severe adverse effects including PTX-induced peripheral neuropathy (PIPN) and hypersensitivity reactions (HSR). A recommended anti-allergic agent diphenhydramine (DIP) has been used to alleviate PTX-induced HSR. Desloratadine (DLT) is a third generation of histamine H1 receptor antagonist, but also acted as a selective antagonist of 5HTR2A. In this study we investigated whether DLT ameliorated PIPN-like symptoms in mice and the underlying mechanisms. PIPN was induced in male mice by injection of PTX (4 mg/kg, i.p.) every other day for 4 times. The mice exhibited 50% reduction in mechanical threshold, paw thermal response latency and paw cold response latency compared with control mice. PIPN mice were treated with DLT (10, 20 mg/kg, i.p.) 30 min before each PTX administration in the phase of establishing PIPN mice model and then administered daily for 4 weeks after the model was established. We showed that DLT administration dose-dependently elevated the mechanical, thermal and cold pain thresholds in PIPN mice, whereas administration of DIP (10 mg/kg, i.p.) had no ameliorative effects on PIPN-like symptoms. We found that the expression of 5HTR2A was selectively elevated in the activated spinal astrocytes of PIPN mice. Spinal cord-specific 5HTR2A knockdown by intrathecal injection of AAV9-5Htr2a-shRNA significantly alleviated the mechanical hyperalgesia, thermal and cold hypersensitivity in PIPN mice, while administration of DLT (20 mg/kg) did not further ameliorate PIPN-like symptoms. We demonstrated that DLT administration alleviated dorsal root ganglion neuronal damage and suppressed sciatic nerve destruction, spinal neuron apoptosis and neuroinflammation in the spinal cord of PIPN mice. Furthermore, we revealed that DLT administration suppressed astrocytic neuroinflammation via the 5HTR2A/c-Fos/NLRP3 pathway and blocked astrocyte-neuron crosstalk by targeting 5HTR2A. We conclude that spinal 5HTR2A inhibition holds promise as a therapeutic approach for PIPN and we emphasize the potential of DLT as a dual-functional agent in ameliorating PTX-induced both PIPN and HSR in chemotherapy. In summary, we determined that spinal 5HTR2A was selectively activated in PIPN mice and DLT could ameliorate the PTX-induced both PIPN- and HSR-like pathologies in mice. DLT alleviated the damages of DRG neurons and sciatic nerves, while restrained spinal neuronal apoptosis and CGRP release in PIPN mice. The underlying mechanisms were intensively investigated by assay against the PIPN mice with 5HTR2A-specific knockdown in the spinal cord by injection of adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9)-5Htr2a-shRNA. DLT inhibited astrocytic NLRP3 inflammasome activation-mediated spinal neuronal damage through 5HTR2A/c-FOS pathway. Our findings have supported that spinal 5HTR2A inhibition shows promise as a therapeutic strategy for PIPN and highlighted the potential advantage of DLT as a dual-functional agent in preventing against PTX-induced both PIPN and HSR effects in anticancer chemotherapy.

Modular Synthesis of Furans with up to Four Different Substituents by a trans-Carboboration Strategy.

Propargyl alcohols, on treatment with MHMDS (M=Na, K), B2 (pin)2 , an acid chloride and a palladium/copper co-catalyst system, undergo a reaction cascade comprised of trans-diboration, regioselective acylation, cyclization and dehydration to give trisubstituted furylboronic acid pinacol ester derivatives in good yields; subsequent Suzuki coupling allows a fourth substituent of choice to be introduced and hence tetrasubstituted (arylated) furans to be formed. In terms of modularity, the method seems unrivaled, not least because each product can be attained by two orthogonal but convergent ways ("diagonal split"). This asset is illustrated by the "serial" formation of a "library" of all twelve possible furan isomers that result from systematic permutation of four different substituents about the heterocyclic core.

AuBr3 -Catalyzed Chemoselective Annulation of Isocyanates with 2H-Azirine.

The chemoselective cyclization of isocyanates with 2H-azirine was achieved with AuBr3 as catalyst. This transfer sets the stage for the synthesis of aromatic oxazole-ureas in a tandem process. The addition of a catalytic amount of phosphite enhances the process enormously. The reaction can also be performed in a one-pot process using benzoyl azide instead of isocyanate under the same conditions. A detailed study on the role of the phosphite that was applied as an additive revealed that only non-coordinated phosphite can reduce gold(III) and that gold(I) coordinated phosphite is not oxidized. Accompanied by the reduction of gold, HBr is generated in situ, which turned out to be the actual promotor in combination with the remaining AuBr3 . The positive effect of acid can be explained by a strong N-Au coordination, which tends to break more easily in the presence of small amount of protic acid in the reaction solution.

The recent achievements of redox-neutral radical C-C cross-coupling enabled by visible-light.

Visible-light photoredox catalysis has been esteemed as one sustainable and attractive synthetic tool. In the past four years, a new yet challenging trend, visible-light-driven redox-neutral radical C-C cross-coupling involving putative radical intermediates, has been booming rapidly. Its advent brings a powerful platform to achieve non-classical C-C connections, and should lead to fundamental changes in retrosynthetic analysis. In this tutorial review, we highlight the recent achievements of visible-light-mediated redox-neutral radical C(sp3)-C(sp2), C(sp3)-C(sp), and C(sp3)-C(sp3) bond formation, opening a new window for C-C cross-coupling through the photoredox electron shuttling cycle between two coupling partners. While radical-radical coupling steered by the persistent radical effect was proposed as a rational explanation for the redox-neutral photoredox events, alternative kinetically driven chain propagation and radical addition pathways cannot be ruled out. This tutorial review aims to highlight the recent achievements of photoredox-neutral radical C-C coupling in synthetic chemistry.

Gold(III)-Catalyzed Site-Selective and Divergent Synthesis of 2-Aminopyrroles and Quinoline-Based Polyazaheterocycles.

A facile, site-selective, and divergent approach to construct 2-aminopyrroles and quinoline-fused polyazaheterocycles enabled by a simple gold(III) catalyst from ynamides and anthranils under mild reaction conditions is described. This one-pot strategy uses readily available starting materials, proceeds in a highly step- and atom-economical manner, with broad substrate scope and scale-up potential. The key element for success in this tandem reaction is a catalyst-directed preferred quenching of the in situ generated gold carbene intermediates by a nucleophilic benzyl/2-furylmethyl moiety on the ynamides as an alternative to the known C-H annulation leading to indoles.

Gold-Catalyzed Regiospecific C-H Annulation of o-Ethynylbiaryls with Anthranils: π-Extension by Ring-Expansion En Route to N-Doped PAHs.

We describe a novel, short, and flexible approach to diverse N-doped polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) through gold-catalyzed π-extension of anthranils with o-ethynylbiaryls as reagents. This strategy uses easily accessible starting materials, is simple due to high step and atom economy, and shows good functional-group compatibility as well as scale-up potential. Mechanistically, the tandem reaction is proposed to involve a nucleophilic addition/ring opening/regiospecific C-H annulation/protodeauration sequence terminated by a Friedel-Crafts-type cyclization. Photophysical studies of the products indicated violet-blue fluorescence emission with quantum yields up to 0.45.

Gold-Catalyzed Synthesis of Quinolines from Propargyl Silyl Ethers and Anthranils through the Umpolung of a Gold Carbene Carbon.

A gold-catalyzed cascade annulation of propargylic silyl ethers with anthranils proceeds through a sequential ring opening/1,2-H-shift/protodeauration/Mukaiyama aldol cyclization. This method offers a regiospecific and modular access to 2-aminoquinolines and other quinoline derivatives under mild conditions and with a broad functional-group tolerance. The conversion is possible on a gram scale, which underlines the synthetic practicability of this methodology. The versatility of the obtained scaffold has been demonstrated by useful postfunctionalization.

Gold-Catalyzed C-H Annulation of Anthranils with Alkynes: A Facile, Flexible, and Atom-Economical Synthesis of Unprotected 7-Acylindoles.

The gold-catalyzed C-H annulation of anthranil derivatives with alkynes offers a facile, flexible, and atom-economical one-step route to unprotected 7-acylindoles. An intermediate α-imino gold carbene, generated by an intermolecular reaction, promotes ortho-aryl C-H functionalization to afford the target products. The transformation proceeds with a broad range of substrates under mild conditions. Moreover, the obtained functionalized indole products represent a versatile platform for the construction of diverse indolyl frameworks.

The immune microenvironment of lung adenocarcinoma featured with ground-glass nodules.

Early-stage lung cancer is now more commonly identified in the form of ground-glass nodules (GGNs). Presently, the treatment of lung cancer with GGNs mainly depends on surgery; however, issues still exist such as overtreatment and delayed treatment due to the nonuniform standard of follow-up. Therefore, the discovery of a noninvasive treatment could expand the treatment repertoire of ground-glass nodular lung cancer and benefit the prognosis of patients. Immunotherapy has recently emerged as a new promising approach in the field of lung cancer treatment. Thus, this study presents a comprehensive review of the immune microenvironment of lung cancer with GGNs and describes the functions and characteristics of various immune cells involved, aiming to provide guidance for the clinical identification of novel immunotherapeutic targets.

Copper-mediated direct C2-cyanation of indoles using acetonitrile as the cyanide source.

A copper-mediated C2-cyanation of indoles using cheap and commercially available acetonitrile as the "nonmetallic" cyanide source was achieved through sequential C-C and C-H bond cleavages. The installation of a removable pyrimidyl group on the indole nitrogen atom is the key for this C2 selectivity. This approach provides a novel and alternative route leading to indole-2-carbonitrile.

Highly efficient visible-light-induced aerobic oxidative C-C, C-P coupling from C-H bonds catalyzed by a gold(III)-complex.

A novel and highly efficient gold(III)-complex catalyzed aerobic oxidative α-C-H functionalization of amines has been developed. The tertiary amines can be directly coupled with various nucleophiles using air as a sustainable oxidant.

Catalyst-controlled switchable phosphination of α-diazoesters.

Organocatalyst and metal provide different products: a catalyst-controlled switchable phosphination of α-diazoesters has been developed by using DBU and copper as catalysts. It provided an efficient synthetic method for the construction of various phosphorus compounds via the formation of N-P and C-P bonds.

Dichotomy of platinum(II) and gold(III) carbene intermediates switching from N- to O-selectivity.

Pt(II) and Au(III)-mediated intermolecular divergent annulations of benzofurazans and ynamides highlighted the N- to O-selectivity of tunable metal carbene intermediates. PtCl2 with a bulky phosphite ligand resulted in the specific synthesis of six-membered quinoxaline N-oxides and successfully suppressed the in-situ deoxygenation of N-oxides. On the other hand, an unique gold(III) catalyst (2,6-di-MeO-PyrAuCl3) led to the five-membered ring products, benzimidazoles. A broad scope of functional groups was well compatible, delivering better yields and selectivities in contrast to conventional gold(I) catalysts. The different behavior of presumed platinum(II) and gold(III) carbenes with respect to chemoselectivity was intensively examined by experiments and DFT calculations. A detailed mechanistic study, based on DFT calculations, revealed that the highly electrophilic carbocation-like gold(III) carbene triggers an oxophilic cyclization, followed by a cascade ring contraction and acyl migration. On the contrary, the Pt carbene species is less cationic, favoring the formation of the six-membered ring via N-attack.

Fabricating Co doped ZnO nanocrystallines by hydrothermal method with high pulsed magnetic field.

Co-doped ZnO nanocrystallines were fabricated by hydrothermal method with high pulsed magnetic field. As a new preparation method, more refined grains and diluted magnetic semiconductors (DMSs) with better performance could be obtained by the hydrothermal synthesis process under pulsed magnetic field. The samples were tested by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) and Raman scattering spectrum. The results show that the sample prepared under pulsed magnetic field has wurtzite structure with tiny crystal lattices changes. Doping Co ions into ZnO crystal lattice is also improved. Curie temperature of 2% Co doped ZnO nanocrystallines synthesized with 4T pulsed magnetic field is higher than that for without magnetic field process, and very close to the room temperature.

Regioselective trans-Carboboration of Propargyl Alcohols.

Proper choice of the base allowed trans-diboration of propargyl alcohols with B2(pin)2 to evolve into an exquisitely regioselective procedure for net trans-carboboration. The method is modular as to the newly introduced carbon substituent (aryl, methyl, allyl, benzyl, alkynyl), which is invariably placed distal to the -OH group.

α-Imino Gold Carbenes from 1,2,4-Oxadiazoles: Atom-Economical Access to Fully Substituted 4-Aminoimidazoles.

A novel and atom-economical synthesis of fully substituted 4-aminoimidazoles via gold-catalyzed selective [3 + 2] annulation of 1,2,4-oxadiazoles with ynamides is reported. This protocol represents a new strategy to access α-imino gold carbenes, which corresponds to an unprecedented intermolecular transfer of N-acylimino nitrenes to ynamides. Moreover, the reaction proceeds with 100% atom economy, exhibits good functional group tolerance, and can be conducted in gram scale.

Gold-catalyzed intermolecular cyclocarboamination of ynamides with 1,3,5-triazinanes: en route to tetrahydropyrimidines.

Gold-catalyzed regioselective cyclocarboamination of ynamides with 1,3,5-triazinanes opens a facile and modular access to valuable 5-aminotetrahydropyrimidines in good to excellent yields. It constitutes an unprecedented yet challenging annulation of ynamides with unstrained saturated heterocycles. This new protocol is distinguished by easy operation, readily available starting materials, stable four-atom building units, good functional-group compatibility and scaling-up potential. The preliminary mechanistic studies indicate that the present intermolecular cyclocarboamination arises from a pseudo-three-component [2+2+2] cycloaddition.

Palladium-catalyzed decarboxylative C2-acylation of indoles with α-oxocarboxylic acids.

A palladium-catalyzed decarboxylative C2-acylation of indoles with α-oxocarboxylic acids was achieved. This protocol represents a novel and complementary approach to 2-aroylindoles.