The chiral bisphosphine dioxide-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate reduction of acyclic β,β-disubstituted α,β-unsaturated ketones with trichlorosilane affords saturated ketones having a stereogenic carbon center at the carbonyl βposition with high enantioselectivities. Because the E/Zisomerizations of enone substrates occur concomitantly, reduction products with the same absolute configurations are obtained from either (E)-or (Z)-enones. Conjugate reduction is accelerated in the presence of an electron-rich aryl group at the β-position of the enone owing to its carbocation-stabilizing ability. Computational studies were also conducted in order to elucidate the origin of the observed enantioselectivity. The regio-and enantioselective reductions of dienones were realized and applied to the syntheses of ar-turmerone, turmeronol A, mutisianthol, and jungianol, which are optically active sesquiterpenes.
TiCl4-promoted aldol reaction of ketones as aldol acceptors followed by elimination of the titanoxy group from the Ti-aldolates affords β,β-disubstituted α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds in a one-pot procedure. The use of additives, such as DMF, N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine, and pyridine, in the elimination step was found to be important.
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. The inflammatory activation of microglia participates in dopaminergic neurodegeneration in PD. Therefore, chemicals that inhibit microglial activation are considered to have therapeutic potential for PD. Aromatic (ar)-turmerone is a main component of turmeric oil extracted from Curcuma longa and has anti-inflammatory activity in cultured microglia. The aims of the present study are (1) to investigate whether naturally occurring S-enantiomer of ar-turmerone (S-Tur) protects dopaminergic neurons in midbrain slice cultures and (2) to examine ar-turmerone analogs that have higher activities than S-Tur in inhibiting microglial activation and protecting dopaminergic neurons. R-enantiomer (R-Tur) and two analogs showed slightly higher anti-inflammatory effects in microglial BV2 cells. S- and R-Tur and these two analogs reversed dopaminergic neurodegeneration triggered by microglial activation in midbrain slice cultures. Unexpectedly, this neuroprotection was independent of the inhibition of microglial activation. Additionally, two analogs more potently inhibited dopaminergic neurodegeneration triggered by a neurotoxin, 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium, than S-Tur. Taken together, we identified two ar-turmerone analogs that directly and potently protected dopaminergic neurons. An investigation using dopaminergic neuronal precursor cells suggested the possible involvement of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 in this neuroprotection.
One-Pot Synthesis of ,-Disubstituted ,-Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds. -Methyl alkyl and aryl ketones undergo TiCl 4-mediated aldol reaction in good yields and with high E selectivity. -(SUGIURA*, M.; ASHIKARI, Y.; NAKAJIMA, M.; J. Org. Chem. 80 (2015) 17, 8830-8835, http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.joc.5b01217 ; Grad. Sch. Pharm. Sci., Kumamoto Univ., Chuo, Kumamoto 862, Japan; Eng.) -M. Tismer 05-059
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