Assessing the impact of climate change on water requirement and yield of sugarcane over different agro-climatic zones of Tamil Nadu.

The DSSAT CANEGRO model was calibrated and verified using field experimental data from five Tamil Nadu Agroclimatic Zones (1981-2022). The genetic coefficients of the sugarcane cultivar (CO-86032) were calculated. R2 obtained between measured and simulated stalk fresh mass was 0.9 with the nRMSE (0.01) and RMSE (1.6) and R2 between measured and simulated sucrose mass was 0.9 with the nRMSE (0.16) and RMSE (1.2). For yield R2 obtained between measured and simulated was 0.9 with the nRMSE (0.01) and RMSE (1.6). As a result, the CANEGRO model may be used to mimic the phenology and yield features of the sugarcane cultivar in Tamil Nadu's Agro Climatic Zones. Temperature increases in Agro Climatic Zones resulted in varying yield reductions, with 2 °C increases causing a 3% loss, 3 °C increases 5%, and 4 °C increases 9%. The Water Requirement rose throughout all of the ACZ due to the high temperature, but to differing degrees. A 2 °C increase often results in an average 4% increase in the WR. 3 °C rise in temperature increased WR to 9% and WR rose by 13% when the temperature was raised by 4 °C.

Aromatic nitrogen scanning by ipso-selective nitrene internalization.

Nitrogen scanning in aryl fragments is a valuable aspect of the drug discovery process, but current strategies require time-intensive, parallel, bottom-up synthesis of each pyridyl isomer because of a lack of direct carbon-to-nitrogen (C-to-N) replacement reactions. We report a site-directable aryl C-to-N replacement reaction allowing unified access to various pyridine isomers through a nitrene-internalization process. In a two-step, one-pot procedure, aryl azides are first photochemically converted to 3H-azepines, which then undergo an oxidatively triggered C2-selective cheletropic carbon extrusion through a spirocyclic azanorcaradiene intermediate to afford the pyridine products. Because the ipso carbon of the aryl nitrene is excised from the molecule, the reaction proceeds regioselectively without perturbation of the remainder of the substrate. Applications are demonstrated in the abbreviated synthesis of a pyridyl derivative of estrone, as well as in a prototypical nitrogen scan.

Direct Deaminative Functionalization.

Selective functional group interconversions in complex molecular settings underpin many of the challenges facing modern organic synthesis. Currently, a privileged subset of functional groups dominates this landscape, while others, despite their abundance, are sorely underdeveloped. Amines epitomize this dichotomy; they are abundant but otherwise intransigent toward direct interconversion. Here, we report an approach that enables the direct conversion of amines to bromides, chlorides, iodides, phosphates, thioethers, and alcohols, the heart of which is a deaminative carbon-centered radical formation process using an anomeric amide reagent. Experimental and computational mechanistic studies demonstrate that successful deaminative functionalization relies not only on outcompeting the H-atom transfer to the incipient radical but also on the generation of polarity-matched, productive chain-carrying radicals that continue to react efficiently. The overall implications of this technology for interconverting amine libraries were evaluated via high-throughput parallel synthesis and applied in the development of one-pot diversification protocols.

Unified Access to Pyrimidines and Quinazolines Enabled by N-N Cleaving Carbon Atom Insertion.

Given the ubiquity of heterocycles in biologically active molecules, transformations with the capacity to modify such molecular skeletons with modularity remain highly desirable. Ring expansions that enable interconversion of privileged heterocyclic motifs are especially interesting in this regard. As such, the known mechanisms for ring expansion and contraction determine the classes of heterocycle amenable to skeletal editing. Herein, we report a reaction that selectively cleaves the N-N bond of pyrazole and indazole cores to afford pyrimidines and quinazolines, respectively. This chlorodiazirine-mediated reaction provides a unified route to a related pair of heterocycles that are otherwise typically prepared by divergent approaches. Mechanistic experiments and DFT calculations support a pathway involving pyrazolium ylide fragmentation followed by cyclization of the ring-opened diazahexatriene intermediate to yield the new diazine core. Beyond enabling access to valuable heteroarenes from easily prepared starting materials, we demonstrate the synthetic utility of skeletal editing in the synthesis of a Rosuvastatin analog as well as in an aryl vector-adjusting direct scaffold hop.

Single-atom logic for heterocycle editing.

Medicinal chemistry continues to be impacted by new synthetic methods. Particularly sought after, especially at the drug discovery stage, is the ability to enact the desired chemical transformations in a concise and chemospecific fashion. To this end, the field of organic synthesis has become captivated by the idea of 'molecular editing'-to rapidly build onto, change or prune molecules one atom at a time using transformations that are mild and selective enough to be employed at the late stages of a synthetic sequence. In this Review, the definition and categorization of a particularly promising subclass of molecular editing reactions, termed 'single-atom skeletal editing', are proposed. Although skeletal editing applies to both cyclic and acyclic compounds, this Review focuses on heterocycles, both for their centrality in medicinal chemistry and for the definitional clarity afforded by a focus on ring systems. A classification system is presented by highlighting methods (both historically important examples and recent advances) that achieve such transformations, with the goal to spark interest and inspire further development in this growing field.

Bioinspired enantioselective total syntheses of antibacterial callistrilones enabled by double SN2' cascade.

A bioinspired, catalytic approach to the enantioselective total syntheses of antibacterial callistrilones A, C-E and 13-epi-callistrilone E natural products containing an unprecedented, sterically compact [1]benzofuro-[2,3-a]xanthene 6/6/6/5/6/3-fused hexacyclic skeleton is described. The key features of the synthesis include a highly regio- and diastereoselective double SN2' cascade reaction, Lewis acid catalysed Michael addition and late stage diastereoselective epoxide formation from the sterically hindered ß-face of the alkene as the key steps.

Direct Deamination of Primary Amines via Isodiazene Intermediates.

We report here a reaction that selectively deaminates primary amines and anilines under mild conditions and with remarkable functional group tolerance including a range of pharmaceutical compounds, amino acids, amino sugars, and natural products. An anomeric amide reagent is uniquely capable of facilitating the reaction through the intermediacy of an unprecedented monosubstituted isodiazene intermediate. In addition to dramatically simplifying deamination compared to existing protocols, our approach enables strategic applications of iminium and amine-directed chemistries as traceless methods. Mechanistic and computational studies support the intermedicacy of a primary isodiazene which exhibits an unexpected divergence from previously studied secondary isodiazenes, leading to cage-escaping, free radical species that engage in a chain, hydrogen-atom transfer process involving aliphatic and diazenyl radical intermediates.

Carbon Atom Insertion into Pyrroles and Indoles Promoted by Chlorodiazirines.

Herein, we report a reaction that selectively generates 3-arylpyridine and quinoline motifs by inserting aryl carbynyl cation equivalents into pyrrole and indole cores, respectively. By employing α-chlorodiazirines as thermal precursors to the corresponding chlorocarbenes, the traditional haloform-based protocol central to the parent Ciamician-Dennstedt rearrangement can be modified to directly afford 3-(hetero)arylpyridines and quinolines. Chlorodiazirines are conveniently prepared in a single step by oxidation of commercially available amidinium salts. Selectivity as a function of pyrrole substitution pattern was examined, and a predictive model based on steric effects is put forward, with DFT calculations supporting a selectivity-determining cyclopropanation step. Computations surprisingly indicate that the stereochemistry of cyclopropanation is of little consequence to the subsequent electrocyclic ring opening that forges the pyridine core, due to a compensatory homoaromatic stabilization that counterbalances orbital-controlled torquoselectivity effects. The utility of this skeletal transform is further demonstrated through the preparation of quinolinophanes and the skeletal editing of pharmaceutically relevant pyrroles.

Skeletal editing through direct nitrogen deletion of secondary amines.

Synthetic chemistry aims to build up molecular complexity from simple feedstocks1. However, the ability to exert precise changes that manipulate the connectivity of the molecular skeleton itself remains limited, despite possessing substantial potential to expand the accessible chemical space2,3. Here we report a reaction that 'deletes' nitrogen from organic molecules. We show that N-pivaloyloxy-N-alkoxyamides, a subclass of anomeric amides, promote the intermolecular activation of secondary aliphatic amines to yield intramolecular carbon-carbon coupling products. Mechanistic experiments indicate that the reactions proceed via isodiazene intermediates that extrude the nitrogen atom as dinitrogen, producing short-lived diradicals that rapidly couple to form the new carbon-carbon bond. The reaction shows broad functional-group tolerance, which enables the translation of routine amine synthesis protocols into a strategy for carbon-carbon bond constructions and ring syntheses. This is highlighted by the use of this reaction in the syntheses and skeletal editing of bioactive compounds.

Streamlined Symmetrical Total Synthesis of Disorazole B1 and Design, Synthesis, and Biological Investigation of Disorazole Analogues.

Taking advantage of the C2-symmetry of the antitumor naturally occurring disorazole B1 molecule, a symmetrical total synthesis was devised with a monomeric advanced intermediate as the key building block, whose three-step conversion to the natural product allowed for an expeditious entry to this family of compounds. Application of the developed synthetic strategies and methods provided a series of designed analogues of disorazole B1, whose biological evaluation led to the identification of a number of potent antitumor agents and the first structure-activity relationships (SARs) within this class of compounds. Specifically, the substitutions of the epoxide units and lactone moieties with cyclopropyl and lactam structural motifs, respectively, were found to be tolerable for biological activities and beneficial with regard to chemical stability.

Sc(OTf)3-Catalyzed Synthesis of Symmetrical Dithioacetals and Bisarylmethanes Using Nitromethane as a Methylene Source.

Use of nitromethane as an electrophilic methylene source for the synthesis of symmetrical dithioacetals and bisarylmethanes has been showcased using Sc(OTf)3 as a catalyst. The procedure allows straightforward access to the densely functionalized dithioacetals and bisarylmethanes under mild conditions. Additionally, the method has been applied for the synthesis of antimalarial tetramethyl mellotojaponin C and anticancer dimeric phloroglucinol derivative.

Design, Synthesis, and Biological Investigation of Epothilone B Analogues Featuring Lactone, Lactam, and Carbocyclic Macrocycles, Epoxide, Aziridine, and 1,1-Difluorocyclopropane and Other Fluorine Residues.

Despite previous studies within the epothilone field, only one member of this compound family, ixabepilone, made it to approval for clinical use. Recent advances in organic synthesis and medicinal chemistry allow further optimization of lead epothilone analogues aiming to improve their potencies and other pharmacological properties as part of the quest for discovery and development of new anticancer drugs, including antibody-drug conjugates as potential targeted cancer therapies. Herein, we report the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of a series of new epothilone B analogues equipped with novel structural motifs, including fluorine-containing residues, 12,13-difluorocyclopropyl moieties, mono- and dimethylated macrolactones, and 1-keto macrocyclic systems, as well as two N-substituted ixabepilone analogues in which the 12,13-epoxide and macrolactam NH moieties were replaced, the former with a substituted aziridine moiety and the latter with an NCO-alkyl residue (imide or carbamate). Biological evaluation of these analogues revealed a number of exceptionally potent epothilone B analogues, demonstrating the potency enhancing effects of the fluorine residues and the aziridinyl moiety within the structure of the epothilone molecule and providing new and useful structure-activity relationships within this class of compounds.

A Phenazine based colorimetric and fluorescent chemosensor for sequential detection of Ag+ and I- in aqueous media.

A new colorimetric and fluorescent probe MNTPZ based on 1H-imidazo[4,5-b]phenazine derivative has been designed and synthesized for successive detection of Ag+ and I- . The probe MNTPZ shows selective colorimetric response by a change in color from yellow to orange and "turn-off" fluorometric response upon binding with Ag+ in DMSO: Water (pH = 7, 1:1, v/v) over other cations. The binding mode of probe MNTPZ to Ag+ was studied by Job's plot, 1 H NMR studies, FT-IR spectroscopy and DFT calculations. Moreover, the situ generated probe MNTPZ+ Ag+ complex acted as an efficient fluorometric "turn-on" probe for I- via Ag+ displacement approach. The detection limit of probe MNTPZ for Ag+ and the resultant complex probe MNTPZ+ Ag+ for I- were determined to be 1.36 µmol/L and 1.03 µmol/L respectively. Notably, the developed probe was successfully used for quantitative determination of I- in real samples with satisfactory results.

APOE genotype and sex affect microglial interactions with plaques in Alzheimer's disease mice.

Microglia affect Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis in opposing manners, by protecting against amyloid accumulation in early phases of the disease and promoting neuropathology in advanced stages. Recent research has identified specific microglial interactions with amyloid plaques that exert important protective functions including attenuation of early pathology. It is unknown how these protective microglial interactions with plaques are affected by apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype and sex, two well-established AD risk factors that modulate microglial function. We investigated this question using quantitative confocal microscopy to compare microglial interactions with amyloid plaques in male and female EFAD mice across APOE3 and APOE4 genotypes at 6 months of age. We observed that microglial coverage of plaques is highest in male APOE3 mice with significant reductions in coverage observed with both APOE4 genotype and female sex. Plaque compaction, a beneficial consequence of microglial interactions with plaques, showed a similar pattern in which APOE4 genotype and female sex were associated with significantly lower values. Within the plaque environment, microglial expression of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2), a known regulator of microglial plaque coverage, was highest in male APOE3 mice and reduced by APOE4 genotype and female sex. These differences in plaque interactions were unrelated to the number of microglial processes in the plaque environment across groups. Interestingly, the pattern of amyloid burden across groups was opposite to that of microglial plaque coverage, with APOE4 genotype and female sex showing the highest amyloid levels. These findings suggest a possible mechanism by which microglia may contribute to the increased AD risk associated with APOE4 genotype and female sex.

Total Synthesis of Adunctin B.

Total synthesis of (±)-adunctin B, a natural product isolated from Piper aduncum (Piperaceae), has been achieved using two different strategies, in seven and three steps. The efficient approach features highly atom economical and diastereoselective Friedel-Crafts acylation, alkylation reaction and palladium catalyzed Wacker type oxidative cyclization.

Biomimetic Total Syntheses of Callistrilones A, B, and D.

A biomimetic total syntheses of antibacterial natural products (±)-callistrilones A, B, and D, the first triketone-phloroglucinol-monoterpene hybrids with an unprecedented [1]benzofuro[2,3-a]xanthene and [1]benzofuro[3,2-b]xanthene pentacyclic ring system along with the postulated biosynthetic intermediate, isolated from the leaves of Callistemon rigidus, were achieved. The total synthesis features highly regio- and diastereoselective catalytic Friedel-Crafts alkylation, palladium-catalyzed Wacker-type oxidative cyclization, Michael addition, and late-stage diastereoselective epoxide formation from the extremely hindered ß face as key steps.

Enantiospecific total syntheses of meroterpenoids (-)-F1839-I and (-)-corallidictyals B and D.

Enantiospecific total syntheses of spiromeroterpenoid natural products (-)-F1839-I and (-)-corallidictyals B and D were achieved using the environmentally benign and highly atom economical Lewis acid catalysed Friedel-Crafts reaction and a highly regio- and stereoselective spirocyclic C-O bond formation reaction.

The NMDA Receptor and Schizophrenia: From Pathophysiology to Treatment.

Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness that affects almost 1% of the population worldwide. Even though the etiology of schizophrenia is uncertain, it is believed to be a neurodevelopmental disorder that results from a combination of environmental insults and genetic vulnerabilities. Over the past 20 years, there has been a confluence of evidence from many research disciplines pointing to alterations in excitatory signaling, particularly involving hypofunction of the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), as a key contributor to the schizophrenia disease process. This review describes the structure-function relationship of the NMDAR channel and how the glycine modulatory site acts as an important regulator of its activity. In addition, this review highlights the genetic, pharmacologic, and biochemical evidence supporting the hypothesis that NMDAR hypofunction contributes to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Finally, this chapter highlights some of the most recent and promising pharmacological strategies that are designed to either, directly or indirectly, augment NMDAR function in an effort to treat the cognitive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia that are not helped by currently available medications.