The selective cross McMurry couplings of diaryl or aryl ketones with various substituted ketones were achieved in 53-94% isolated yields. It is believed that the strong affinity of the substituents to the low-valent titanium surface plays an important role in regards to moderating selectivity. Through the introduction of such substituents followed by their removal post McMurry coupling, structurally similar ketones can be effectively cross-coupled.

A series of compounds structurally related to aripiprazole (1), an atypical antipsychotic and antidepressant used clinically for the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression, have been prepared and evaluated for affinity at D2-like dopamine receptors. These compounds also share structural elements with the classical D2-like dopamine receptor antagonists, haloperidol, N-methylspiperone, domperidone and benperidol. Two new compounds, 7-(4-(4-(2-methoxyphenyl)piperazin-1-yl)butoxy)-3,4-dihydroquinolin-2(1H)-one oxalate (6) and 7-(4-(4-(2-(2-fluoroethoxy)phenyl)piperazin-1-yl)butoxy)-3,4-dihydroquinolin-2(1H)-one oxalate (7) were found to (a) bind to the D2 receptor subtype with high affinity (Ki values <0.3 nM), (b) exhibit >50-fold D2 versus D3 receptor binding selectivity and (c) be partial agonists at both the D2 and D3 receptor subtype.

To identify suitable lipophilic compounds having high potency and selectivity for vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT), a heteroaromatic ring or a phenyl group was introduced into the carbonyl-containing scaffold for VAChT ligands. Twenty new compounds with ALog D values between 0.53-3.2 were synthesized, and their in vitro binding affinities were assayed. Six of them (19a, 19e, 19g, 19k and 24a-b) displayed high affinity for VAChT (Ki = 0.93 – 18 nM for racemates) and moderate to high selectivity for VAChT over σ1 and σ2 receptors (Ki = 44 – 4400-fold). These compounds have a methyl or a fluoro substitution that provides the position for incorporating PET radioisotopes C-11 or F-18. Compound (-)-[11C]24b (Ki = 0.78 for VAChT, 900-fold over σ receptors) was successfully synthesized and evaluated in vivo in rats and nonhuman primates. The data revealed that (-)-[11C]24b has highest binding in striatum and has favorable pharmacokinetics in the brain.

A novel two-step synthesis of 2-arylbenzofurans has been developed. It involves a selective cross McMurry coupling of a salicylaldehyde or substituted salicylaldehyde with an aromatic aldehyde and a sequential oxidative cyclization of the resulting ortho-vinylphenols. Utilizing this synthetic protocol, a variety of 2-arylbenzofurans including cicerfuran have been efficiently synthesized.

A highly efficient and enantioselective Rh-(R,R)-f-spiroPhos complex catalyzed hydrogenation of a series of unsaturated sulfones has been developed. With Rh-(R,R)-f-spiroPhos catalyst under mild conditions, not only the asymmetric hydrogenation of both the 3,3-diaryl and exocyclic α,β-unsaturated sulfones was first realized with up to 99.9% ee but also 3-alkyl-3-aryl and benzo­[b]­thiophene-1,1-dioxides were successfully hydrogenated to the corresponding chiral sulfones with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99.4% ee) regardless of the steric hindrance, electronic property, and geometry of the substrates. Moreover, this reaction offers a route to (S)-(+)-ar-turmerone as a spice flavor, which is an important synthetic intermediate of pharmaceuticals.

The alteration in protein conformation not only affects the performance of its biological functions, but also leads to a variety of protein‐mediated diseases. Developing a sensitive strategy for protein detection and monitoring its conformation changes is of great significance for the diagnosis and treatment of protein conformation diseases. Herein, a plasmon‐enhanced fluorescence (PEF) sensor is developed, based on an aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) molecule to monitor conformational changes in protein, using prion protein as a model. Three anthracene derivatives with AIE characteristics are synthesized and a water‐miscible sulfonate salt of 9,10‐bis(2‐(6‐sulfonaphthalen‐2‐yl)vinyl)anthracene (BSNVA) is selected to construct the PEF–AIE sensor. The sensor is nearly non‐emissive when it is mixed with cellular prion protein while emits fluorescence when mixed with disease‐associated prion protein (PrPSc). The kinetic process of conformational conversion can be monitored through the fluorescence changes of the PEF–AIE sensor. By right of the amplified fluorescence signal, this PEF–AIE sensor can achieve a detection limit 10 pM lower than the traditional AIE probe and exhibit a good performance in human serum sample. Furthermore, molecular docking simulations suggest that BSNVA tends to dock in the β‐sheet structure of PrP by hydrophobic interaction between BSNVA and the exposed hydrophobic residues.

Iodo- or 2-bromopyridine N-oxides were readily magnesiated with i-PrMgCl x LiCl via the iodine or bromine-magnesium exchange. The bromine adjacent to pyridine N-oxide (at the 2- or 6-position) can be regioselectively magnesiated in the presence of other position substituted halogens. This method was tested in various substituted pyridine N-oxide systems, and has been successfully applied to the total synthesis of caerulomycins E and A.

Remote field eddy current is an effective non-destructive testing method for ferromagnetic tubular structures. In view of conventional sensors' disadvantages such as low signal-to-noise ratio and poor sensitivity to axial cracks, a novel high sensitivity sensor based on orthogonal magnetic field excitation is proposed. Firstly, through a three-dimensional finite element simulation, the remote field effect under orthogonal magnetic field excitation is determined, and an appropriate configuration which can generate an orthogonal magnetic field for a tubular structure is developed. Secondly, optimized selection of key parameters such as frequency, exciting currents and shielding modes is analyzed in detail, and different types of pick-up coils, including a new self-differential mode pick-up coil, are designed and analyzed. Lastly, the proposed sensor is verified experimentally by various types of defects manufactured on a section of a ferromagnetic tube. Experimental results show that the proposed novel sensor can largely improve the sensitivity of defect detection, especially for axial crack whose depth is less than 40% wall thickness, which are very difficult to detect and identify by conventional sensors. Another noteworthy advantage of the proposed sensor is that it has almost equal sensitivity to various types of defects, when a self-differential mode pick-up coil is adopted.