A gold-catalyzed 1,2-acyloxy migration/intramolecular cyclopropanation/ring enlargement cascade: syntheses of medium-sized heterocycles.

The synthesis of medium-sized heterocycles possessing a trans double bond is still a challenge. Herein, gold(I)-catalyzed 1,2-acyloxy migration/intramolecular cyclopropanation/ring enlargement cascade reaction of furans has been developed, providing highly efficient access to ten- and eleven-membered heterocycles with a broad substrate scope under mild reaction conditions. The reaction outcome features high chemoselectivity at the C5-position of furan. Moreover, a trans-double bond was embodied in the medium ring system.

Platelet-derived growth factor-BB induces matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression and rat vascular smooth muscle cell migration via ROCK and ERK/p38 MAPK pathways.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. Their expressions are altered in response to a variety of stimuli, including growth factors, inflammatory markers, and cytokines. In this study, we demonstrated that platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) induces a dose- and time-dependent increase in MMP-2 expression in rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). Treatment with either the Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) inhibitor Y-27632 or suppression of ROCK-1/2 by small interfering RNA technology significantly reduced the MMP-2 expression, thus suggesting that ROCK regulates such expression. Similar results were observed when VSMC were pretreated with either U0126 or SB203580, which are selective inhibitors of extracellular signal-regulated kinase and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, respectively, thus suggesting that these kinases are important for the induction of MMP-2 expression by PDGF-BB. In conclusion, these results described a novel mechanism in atherosclerosis through PDGF-BB signaling in VSMC, in which MMP-2 expression is induced via extracellular signal-regulated kinases and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation, as well as ROCK.

Gold-catalyzed reaction of oxabicyclic alkenes with electron-deficient terminal alkynes to produce acrylate derivatives.

Oxabicyclic alkenes can react with electron-deficient terminal alkynes in the presence of a gold catalyst under mild conditions, affording the corresponding addition products in moderate yields. When using alkynyl esters as substrates, the (Z)-acrylate derivatives are obtained. Using but-3-yn-2-one (ethynyl ketone) as a substrate, the corresponding addition product is obtained with (E)-configuration. The proposed mechanism of these reactions is also discussed.

Synthesis of axially chiral gold complexes and their applications in asymmetric catalyses.

Several novel chiral N-heterocyclic carbene and phosphine ligands were prepared from (S)-BINOL. Moreover, their ligated Au complexes were also successfully synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystal diffraction. A weak gold-π interaction between the Au atom and the aromatic ring in these gold complexes was identified. Furthermore, we confirmed the formation of a pair of diastereomeric isomers in NHC gold complexes bearing an axially chiral binaphthyl moiety derived from the hindered rotation around C-C and C-N bonds. In the asymmetric intramolecular hydroamination reaction most of these chiral Au(I) complexes showed good catalytic activities towards olefins tethered with a NHTs functional group to give the corresponding product in moderate yields and up to 29% ee.

Synthesis of functionalized chromans by PnBu3-catalyzed reactions of salicylaldimines and salicylaldehydes with allenic ester.

P(n)Bu(3)-catalyzed cyclization reactions of salicylaldimines and salicylaldehydes with ethyl 2,3-butadienoate gave the corresponding functionalized chromans in moderate to good yields in THF under mild conditions. The new reaction provides a new method for the synthesis of biologically active chroman products.