Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (+)-Alstilobanine†C, (+)-Undulifoline, and (-)-Alpneumine†H.

We report herein the enantioselective total synthesis of three monoterpene indole alkaloids, namely, (+)-alstilobanine C, (+)-undulifoline, and (-)-alpneumine H. The key features of our synthesis include: a) introduction of chirality via enantioselective deprotonation of a prochiral 4-substituted cyclohexanone; b) use of methoxymethyl (MOM) ether as both a hydroxyl protective group and a latent oxonium species for the formation of bridged oxepane and c) domino double reductive cyclization to build both the indole and the piperidine ring at the end of the synthesis. The synthesis confirmed the absolute configuration of these natural products assigned based on the biogenetic hypothesis.

Cu-catalyzed aerobic oxidative cyclization of guanidylpyridines and derivatives.

A new method for the straightforward synthesis of 2-amino-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridines and derivatives is presented. The target products are synthesized in high yields from guanidylpyridines and analogues via copper-catalyzed N-N coupling. The present methodology shows a wide scope, tolerating not only different substituents on the pyridine ring but also different heterocylic rings such as pyrazines, pyrimidines, and pyridazines.

A ratiometric fluorescence sensor for caffeine.

The dye disodium 3,4:3',4'-bibenzo[b]thiophene-2,2'-disulfonate can be used as a molecular probe for the fluorimetric detection of caffeine in aqueous solution. The fluorescence response is attributed to non-covalent interactions of caffeine with the dye in the ground state and in the excited state. The bimodal interaction allows performing ratiometric measurements with very good selectivity over structurally related analytes. The dye was also used to develop a simple test strip for the visual differentiation of normal and decaffeinated coffee with a standard UV lamp.