Entry into Lithium Ynolates from α,α,α-Tribromomethyl Ketones: Synthesis of Cyclobutenes via the [2 + 2] Cycloaddition with α,ß-Unsaturated Carbonyls.

This study reports the synthesis of cyclobutene derivatives in good yields via the [2 + 2] cycloaddition between lithium ynolates and α,ß-unsaturated carbonyls. The ynolates are generated from α,α,α-tribromomethyl ketones and tert-butyl lithium via a simple and novel method, which does not produce any harmful byproducts, such as lithium alkoxide, which induces a polymerization reaction with α,ß-unsaturated carbonyls.

Sequential Nucleophilic Arylation/Ring-Contractive Rearrangement of N-Alkoxylactams.

A nucleophilic addition/ring-contractive rearrangement of α-bromo N-alkoxylactams with organometallic reagents was developed, providing an efficient access to α-acylpyrrolidines incorporating various C(sp2) units such as aryl, heteroaryl, and alkenyl groups. The sequential reaction proceeds through a five-membered chelate formation using nucleophilic addition followed by ring contraction via the formation of N,O-hemiaminal with good yields and a broad substrate scope. Moreover, a preliminary result with the use of the chiral N-alkoxylactam for the diastereoselective reaction is described.

Nucleophilic Arylation of N,O-Ketene Acetals with Triaryl Aluminum Reagents: Access to α-Aryl Amides through an Umpolung Process.

A novel approach for the umpolung α-arylation of amides is presented. By the nucleophilic phenylation of O-silyl N,O-ketene acetals, generated in situ from N-alkoxy amides, a phenyl group can be introduced onto the α-carbon atom of amides through N-O bond cleavage in a two-step, one-pot process. The asymmetric synthesis of α-aryl amides through the diastereoselective arylation of a chiral N,O-ketene acetal is also described.

Global expression study in colorectal cancer on proteins with alkaline isoelectric point by two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis.

Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death worldwide. To identify candidates for biomarkers and therapeutic targets, we investigated the proteome of colorectal cancer tissues. Using 2D-DIGE in combination with our original large format electrophoresis apparatus, we compared surgically resected normal and tumor tissues from 53 patients with colorectal cancer. We focused on proteins with an alkaline pI using IPG gels for the alkaline range. We observed 1687 protein spots, and found 100 spots with statistical (p<0.01) and significant (>2-fold) differences between the normal and the tumor tissue groups. Among these 100 protein spots, five showed a different intensity between tumor tissues from the stage-II and the stage-III patients. MS experiments revealed that these 100 protein spots corresponded to 58 unique proteins. These included six proteins which had not been previously reported to be associated with colorectal cancer. Among these proteins, five were not reported in any type of malignancy. IEF/western blotting confirmed the differences in protein expression between the normal and the tumor tissues. These results may provide an insight for biomarker development and drug target discovery in colorectal cancer.