Evolution in the field of the total synthesis of natural products has led to exciting developments over the last decade. Numerous chemoselective and enantioselective methodologies have emerged from total syntheses, resulting in efficient access to many important natural product targets. This Review highlights recent developments concerning dearomatization, a powerful strategy for the total synthesis of architecturally complex natural products wherein planar, aromatic scaffolds are converted to three-dimensional molecular architectures.

Dearomatization Strategies in the Synthesis of Complex Natural Products

Understanding the thermal reduction of graphene oxide (GO) is important for graphene exfoliation, and chemical and morphological modifications. In this process, the role of trapped water and the evolution of oxygen during annealing are still not well-understood. To unravel the complex mechanisms leading to the removal of oxygen in reduced GO, we have performed in situ transmission infrared absorption spectroscopy measurements of GO films upon thermal annealing at 60–850 °C in vacuum (10–3–10–4 Torr). Using cluster-based first-principles calculations, epoxides, ethers (pyrans and furans), hydroxyls, carboxyls, lactols, and various types of ketones and their possible derivatives have been identified from the spectroscopic data. Furthermore, the interactions between randomly arranged nearby oxygen species are found to affect the spectral response (red and blue shifts) and the overall chemistry during annealing. For instance, the initial composition of oxygen species (relative amounts and types of species, su...

The Role of Oxygen during Thermal Reduction of Graphene Oxide Studied by Infrared Absorption Spectroscopy

2.5. Ionic Liquids Presented in This Review 2020 3. Cyclocondensation Reactions 2020 4. Synthesis of Three-Membered Heterocycles 2022 4.1. Aziridines 2022 5. Synthesis of Five-Membered Heterocycles 2022 5.1. Pyrroles 2022 5.2. Furans 2022 5.3. Thiophenes 2023 5.4. Pyrazoles 2024 5.5. Imidazoles 2025 5.6. Isoxazoles 2027 5.7. Oxazoles, Oxazolines, and Oxazolidinones 2027 5.8. Thiazoles and Thiazolidinones 2028 6. Synthesis of Six-Membered Heterocycles 2030 6.1. Pyridines 2030 6.2. Quinolines 2031 6.3. Acridines 2033 6.4. Pyrans 2033 6.5. Flavones 2035 6.6. Pyrimidines and Pyrimidinones 2035 6.7. Quinazolines 2037 6.8. -Carbolines 2038 6.9. Dioxanes 2039 6.10. Oxazines 2039 6.11. Benzothiazines 2040 6.12. Triazines 2040 7. Synthesis of Seven-Membered Heterocycles: Diazepines 2041

Ionic liquids in heterocyclic synthesis.

6.1. Oxadiazoles 4154 6.2. Diazaphospholes 4154 7. Six-Membered Heterocycles with One Heteroatom 4155 7.1. Pyridines 4155 7.2. Pyridinones 4155 7.3. Quinolines 4156 7.4. Quinolinones 4157 7.5. Isoquinolines 4157 7.6. Acridines 4158 7.7. Pyranones 4158 7.8. Flavones 4159 8. Six-Membered Heterocycles with Two Heteroatoms 4159 8.1. Pyridazinones 4159 8.2. Pyrimidines 4159 8.3. Pyrimidinones 4160 8.4. Quinazolines 4162 8.5. Quinazolinones 4162 8.6. Quinoxalines 4164 8.7. Quinoxalinediones 4165 8.8. Oxazines 4165 8.9. Oxazinones 4166 8.10. Thiazines 4166 9. Six-Membered Heterocycles with Three Heteroatoms 4166

Solvent-free heterocyclic synthesis.

Energetic Aspects of Cyclic Pi-Electron Delocalization: Evaluation of the Methods of Estimating Aromatic Stabilization Energies

Aromaticity as a cornerstone of heterocyclic chemistry.

Long hydrocarbon chain ethers with bis-terminal hydroxyl or carboxyl groups have been synthesized and evaluated for their potential to favorably alter lipid disorders including metabolic syndrome. Compounds were assessed for their effects on the de novo incorporation of radiolabeled acetate into lipids in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes as well as for their effects on lipid and glycemic variables in female obese Zucker fatty rats following 1 and 2 weeks of daily oral administration. The most active compounds were found to be symmetrical with four to five methylene groups separating the central ether functionality and the gem dimethyl or methyl/aryl substituents. Biological activity was found to be greatest for tetramethyl-substituted ether diols (e.g., 28 and 31), while bis(arylmethyl) derivatives (e.g., 10, 11, and 27), diethers (e.g., 49, 50, and 56), and diphenyl ethers (e.g., 35 and 36) were the least active. For the most biologically active compound 28, we observed as much as a 346% increase in serum HDL-cholesterol and a 71% reduction in serum triglycerides at the highest dose administered (100 mg/kg) after 2 weeks of treatment. For compound 31 we observed a 69% reduction in non-HDL-cholesterol, accompanied by a 131% increase in HDL-cholesterol and an 84% reduction in serum triglycerides under the same treatment conditions.

Long hydrocarbon chain ether diols and ether diacids that favorably alter lipid disorders in vivo.

Keto-substituted hydrocarbons with 11-19 methylene and bis-terminal hydroxyl and carboxyl groups have been synthesized and evaluated in both in vivo and in vitro assays for their potential to favorably alter lipid disorders including metabolic syndrome. Compounds were assessed for their effects on the de novo incorporation of radiolabeled acetate into lipids in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes as well as for their effects on lipid and glycemic variables in obese female Zucker fatty rats [Crl:(ZUC)-faBR] following 1 and 2 weeks of oral administration. The most active compounds were found to be symmetrical with four to five methylene groups separating the central ketone functionality and the gem dimethyl or methyl/aryl substituents. Furthermore, biological activity was found to be greatest in both in vivo and in vitro assays for the tetramethyl-substituted keto diacids and diols (e.g., 10c, 10g, 14c), and the least active were shown to be the bis(arylmethyl) derivatives (e.g., 10e, 10f, 14f). Compound 14c dose-dependently elevated HDL-cholesterol, reduced triglycerides, and reduced NEFA, with a minimum effective dose of 30 mg/kg/day. Compound 1 g dose-dependently modified non-HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and nonesterified fatty acids, with a minimum effective dose of 10 mg/kg/day. At this dose, compound 10g elevated HDL-cholesterol levels 2-3 times higher than pretreatment levels, and a dose-dependent reduction of fasting insulin and glucose levels was observed.

Long Hydrocarbon Chain Keto Diols and Diacids that Favorably Alter Lipid Disorders in Vivo

Aromaticity as a Cornerstone of Heterocyclic Chemistry

A series of long (11-15) hydrocarbon chain diols and diacids with various central functional groups and terminal gem-dimethyl or -methyl/aryl substituents was synthesized and evaluated in both in vivo and in vitro assays for its potential to favorably alter lipid disorders including metabolic syndrome. Compounds were assessed for their effects on the de novo incorporation of radiolabeled acetate into lipids in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes, as well as for their effects on lipid and glycemic variables in obese female Zucker fatty rats, Crl:(ZUC)-faBR. The most active compounds were hydroxyl-substituted symmetrical diacids and diols with a 13-atom chain and terminal gem-dimethyl substituents. Furthermore, biological activity was enhanced by central substitution with O, C=O, S, S=O compared to the methylene analogues and was diminished for compounds with central functional groups such as carbamate, ester, urea, acetylmethylene, and hydroxymethylene.

Daniela C. Oniciu

Papers

Aromaticity as a cornerstone of heterocyclic chemistry.

Long hydrocarbon chain ether diols and ether diacids that favorably alter lipid disorders in vivo.

Long Hydrocarbon Chain Keto Diols and Diacids that Favorably Alter Lipid Disorders in Vivo

Aromaticity as a Cornerstone of Heterocyclic Chemistry

Influence of various central moieties on the hypolipidemic properties of long hydrocarbon chain diols and diacids.