Hydrogen-free alkene reduction in continuous flow.

The first continuous hydrogenation that requires neither H(2) nor metal catalysis generates diimide by a novel reagent combination. The simple flow reactor employed minimizes residence time by enabling safe operation at elevated temperature.

Total synthesis of the interleukin-1beta converting enzyme inhibitor EI-1941-2 using tandem oxa-electrocyclization/oxidation1.

[reaction: see text] The total synthesis of the interleukin-1beta converting enzyme inhibitor EI-1941-2 was achieved utilizing tandem oxidation/oxa-electrocyclization/oxidation to access a key alpha-pyrone intermediate. Support for the tandem reaction mechanism was obtained by evaluation of a stepwise oxidation protocol.