Cerebrolysin reduces mechanical allodynia in a rodent model of peripheral inflammation.

Cerebrolysin (Cbl) is a neuropeptide preparation of cerebroproteins that crosses the blood brain barrier displaying neuroprotective properties and promoting neurogenesis. Limited evidence exists on the efficacy of Cbl for the treatment of pain, with many studies focusing on neuropathic pain associated to diabetes. Therefore, we designed a study to test the hypothesis that Cbl would reduce mechanical allodynia in a rat model of peripheral inflammation induced by administration of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) in the hind paw. We found that acute administration of Cbl was effective in reducing mechanical allodynia but not peripheral inflammation in the CFA model of inflammatory pain. Our investigation supports further investigation into the therapeutic applications and mechanisms underlying the anti-allodynic effects of Cbl in inflammatory pain.

Asymmetric synthesis of (S)-(-)-xylopinine. Use of the sulfinyl group as an ipso director in aromatic SE.

Optically pure (S)-(-)-xylopinine 2 was prepared in three steps in 52% overall yield. Thus, condensation of the carbanion derived from (S)-4 with the (S)-(E)-sulfinylimine 5 gave a 2:1 mixture of tetrahydroisoquinolines 6a and 6b, differing only in configuration at sulfur. N-Desulfinylation of this mixture gave the diastereomeric sulfoxides which, without separation, were converted into (S)-(-)-xylopinine (2) with loss of the sulfinyl moieties under Pictet-Spengler conditions. This unprecedented ipso electrophilic substitution of a sulfinyl group may have synthetic implications beyond that described in this work.

Methyl sulfinates as electrophiles in Friedel-Crafts reactions. Synthesis of aryl sulfoxides.

The Friedel-Crafts reaction of methyl alkyl- and arylsulfinates with aromatic systems, activated by one or more electron-donating substituents (OH, OMe, NHR, NR(2)), provides alkyl aryl and diaryl sulfoxides under mild conditions and in moderate to good yields. The very high regioselectivity usually observed in these sulfinylation reactions is rationalized on the basis of a Wheland intermediate having a trigonal bypyramidal structure in which steric and electronic interactions are significant factors strongly destabilizing the attack to the ortho positions.

1,2-Dimeth-oxy-4-methyl-3-[(S)-p-tolyl-sulfin-yl]benzene.

In the title compound, C(16)H(18)O(3)S, the dihedral angle between the benzene rings is 75.48 (8)°. The absolute configuration at the stereogenic S-atom center was determined as S. The crystal structure is stabilized by inter-molecular C-H⋯O contacts.

Monoalkylation of primary amines and N-sulfinylamides.

An efficient monoalkylation of primary amines with primary or secondary alcohols catalyzed by Ra-Ni under mild conditions is described.

Determination of the enantiomeric excess of chiral carboxylic acids by 31P NMR with phosphorylated derivatizing agents from C2-symmetrical diamines containing the (S)-alpha-phenylethyl group.

The use of P(III) and P(V) organophosphorus derivatizing agents prepared from C(2) symmetrical (1R,2R)- and (1S,2S)-trans-N,N'-bis-[(S)-alpha-phenylethyl]-cyclohexane-1,2-diamines 1 and 2, as well as (1R,2R)- and (1S,2S)-trans-N,N'-bis-[(S)-alpha-phenylethyl]-4-cyclohexene-1,2-diamines 3 and 4 for the determination of enantiomeric composition of chiral carboxylic acids by (31)P NMR, is described.