Aberrant activation of NF-κB is associated with the development of cancer and autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. IKKs are well recognized as key regulators in the NF-κB pathway and therefore represent attractive targets for intervention with small molecule inhibitors. Herein, we report that a complex natural product ainsliadimer A is a potent inhibitor of the NF-κB pathway. Ainsliadimer A selectively binds to the conserved cysteine 46 residue of IKKα/β and suppresses their activities through an allosteric effect, leading to the inhibition of both canonical and non-canonical NF-κB pathways. Remarkably, ainsliadimer A induces cell death of various cancer cells and represses in vivo tumour growth and endotoxin-mediated inflammatory responses. Ainsliadimer A is thus a natural product targeting the cysteine 46 of IKKα/β to block NF-κB signalling. Therefore, it has great potential for use in the development of anticancer and anti-inflammatory therapies.

In addition to the appealing synthetic transformations that cyclopropanes present, they are also part of larger molecular structures that possess a wide range of biological properties. Therefore, the preparation of enantiomerically enriched cyclopropanes has consistently been a very interesting research topic in organic synthesis. In this Focus Review, we are presenting new methods for the synthesis of these target compounds through catalytic and asymmetric direct functionalization of simple achiral three-membered carbocycle precursors. These convergent and very flexible approaches allow the preparation of a large variety of polysubstituted alkyl-, vinyl-, alkynyl-, and arylcyclopropanes but also cyclopropanols and cyclopropylamines in very high diastereo- and enantiomeric ratios from a single precursor, underlining the power of this synthetic route.

We report the first biomimetic syntheses of (-)-gochnatiolides A-C and (-)-ainsliadimer B based on our proposed biogenetic pathway. Our synthesis features one-pot cascade transformations including Saegusa oxidation, intermolecular Diels-Alder cycloaddition, and radical-mediated allylic oxidation, which allow for the rapid generation of (-)-gochnatiolides A-C in a collective manner. We also disclose an unprecedented "copper effect" on the stereochemical outcome of the radical-mediated allylic oxidation. Our synthetic endeavors led to the structural reassignment of (-)-gochnatiolide B. Ultimately, a biomimetic transformation from gochnatiolide B to ainsliadimer B was achieved through a remarkable direct enone hydration.

The highly diastereo- and enantioselective formation of polysubstituted cyclopropanes was easily achieved through the asymmetric copper-catalyzed carbomagnesiation reaction of nonfunctionalized cyclopropene derivatives. The carbometalated species generated in situ readily undergo C-C and C-X bond-forming reactions with various electrophiles with complete retention of configuration.

A variety of highly diastereo- and enantiomerically enriched arylcyclopropanes is obtained through the asymmetric rhodium-catalyzed arylation reaction of achiral nonfunctionalized cyclopropene derivatives with commercially available aryl boronic acids in the presence of (R,S)-Josiphos.