COSMIC, the Catalogue Of Somatic Mutations In Cancer ( https://cancer.sanger.ac.uk ) is the most detailed and comprehensive resource for exploring the effect of somatic mutations in human cancer. The latest release, COSMIC v86 (August 2018), includes almost 6 million coding mutations across 1.4 million tumour samples, curated from over 26 000 publications. In addition to coding mutations, COSMIC covers all the genetic mechanisms by which somatic mutations promote cancer, including non-coding mutations, gene fusions, copy-number variants and drug-resistance mutations. COSMIC is primarily hand-curated, ensuring quality, accuracy and descriptive data capture. Building on our manual curation processes, we are introducing new initiatives that allow us to prioritize key genes and diseases, and to react more quickly and comprehensively to new findings in the literature. Alongside improvements to the public website and data-download systems, new functionality in COSMIC-3D allows exploration of mutations within three-dimensional protein structures, their protein structural and functional impacts, and implications for druggability. In parallel with COSMIC’s deep and broad variant coverage, the Cancer Gene Census (CGC) describes a curated catalogue of genes driving every form of human cancer. Currently describing 719 genes, the CGC has recently introduced functional descriptions of how each gene drives disease, summarized into the 10 cancer Hallmarks.

The enantioselective synthesis of three structurally distinct classes of lignan from a single, aza-Claisen-derived, chiral morpholine amide is reported. The class of lignan formed is dependent on the substitution pattern in the aryl rings and choice of protecting group on a key benzylic hydroxyl group. The methodology has been used to asymmetrically synthesize and determine the absolute stereochemistry of lignans (+)-cyclogalgravin 3, (-)-pycnanthulignene A 4, (-)-pycnanthulignene B 5, and (-)-kadangustin J 8.

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A simple and stereocontrolled synthesis of racemic 2,3,4,5-tetrasubstituted tetrahydrofurans was achieved from acyl-Claisen derived syn-disubstituted amides.

The acyl-Claisen rearrangement, also called a zwitterionic aza-Claisen rearrangement, allows for the synthesis of 2,3-syn-substituted morpholine pent-4-eneamides with high levels of diastereoselectivity. A wide variety of alkyl and aryl substituents can be introduced with yields highly dependent on the stoichiometry of the Lewis acid catalyst. The use of these morpholine amides in the synthesis of the tetrasubstituted tetrahydrofuran lignans fragransin A2, talaumidin, and galbelgin is summarized. The conversion of the Claisen-derived amides into aryl tetraline and 1,1-diarylbutanol lignans via alteration of the protecting groups is also described. Nucleophilic addition of an organometallic reagent to the morpholine amide followed by Wacker oxidation of the alkene gives highly substituted 1,4-diketones, which can be easily converted into fully substituted pyrroles.