Conjugation of antifungal benzoic acid derivatives as a path for detoxification in Penicillium brasilianum, an endophyte from Melia azedarach.

In this study, the consumption of 4-bromobenzoic acid and 4-chlorobenzoic acid by the fungus Penicillium brasilianum, an endophyte from Melia azedarach is evaluated. This fungus metabolizes these halobenzoic acids to produce three new brominated compounds, which have been isolated and characterized, and three new chlorinated derivatives identified by HRMS. Among these products, (4-bromobenzoyl)proline has been also chemically synthesized and employed in biological assays, thus providing insights for the elucidation of the defense mechanism of P. brasilianum towards these halobenzoic acids.

Hydroalkylation of alkynyl ethers via a gold(I)-catalyzed 1,5-hydride shift/cyclization sequence.

A series of alkynyl ethers react with an electrophilic gold(I) catalyst to produce a range of structurally complex spiro or fused dihydrofurans and dihydropyrans via a 1,5-hydride shift/cyclization sequence. This hydroalkylation process, which is performed under practical experimental conditions, can be applied to terminal as well as ester-substituted alkynes. It allows the efficient conversion of secondary or tertiary sp(3) C-H bonds into new C-C bonds by the nucleophilic addition of a vinylgold species onto an oxonium intermediate. The stereoselectivity of the cycloisomerization process toward the formation of a new five- or six-membered cycle appears to be dependent on steric factors and the alkyne substitution pattern.

Synthesis of functionalized oxazolones by a sequence of Cu(II)- and Au(I)-catalyzed transformations.

A study concerning a two-step sequence leading to the formation of diversely 1,5-disubstituted oxazolones is described. The mild conditions employed allow the efficient and rapid synthesis of a variety of such compounds via an initial Cu(II)-catalyzed coupling of a bromoalkyne with a secondary tert-butyloxycarbamate followed by a Au(I)-catalyzed cycloisomerization of the N-alkynyl tert-butyloxycarbamates thus obtained.