In recent years, para-quinone methides (p-QMs) have emerged as attractive and versatile synthons in organic synthesis owing to their high reactivity. Consequently, p-QM chemistry has attracted increasing attention and remarkable advances have been achieved. Among the numerous transformations involving p-QMs, catalytic reactions play a pivotal role, and a variety of catalytic systems mediated by Lewis acids, Bronsted acids, bases, transition metals, N-heterocyclic carbenes, and other catalysts have been established for performing 1,6-conjugate addition reactions. Various molecular scaffolds have been constructed using p-QMs to obtain the core structures of numerous natural and synthetic substances of chemical and biomedical relevance. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of recent progress in this rapidly growing field by summarizing the 1,6-conjugate addition and annulation reactions of p-QMs with consideration of their mechanisms and applications.

https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2020/qo/d0qo00387e

Recent developments in 1,6-addition reactions of para-quinone methides (p-QMs)

Lipase Inhibitors for Obesity: A Review.

Visible-light-enabled spirocyclization of alkynes leading to 3-sulfonyl and 3-sulfenyl azaspiro[4,5]trienones

Conjugated poly-ynes and poly(metalla-ynes) constitute an important class of new materials with potential application in various domains of science. The key factors responsible for the diverse usage of these materials is their intriguing and tunable chemical and photophysical properties. This review highlights fascinating advances made in the field of conjugated organic poly-ynes and poly(metalla-ynes) incorporating group 4–11 metals. This includes several important aspects of conjugated poly-ynes viz. synthetic protocols, bonding, electronic structure, nature of luminescence, structure–property relationships, diverse applications, and concluding remarks. Furthermore, we delineated the future directions and challenges in this particular area of research.

Rise of Conjugated Poly-ynes and Poly(Metalla-ynes): From Design Through Synthesis to Structure–Property Relationships and Applications

We report the alkynylation of C(sp2)–H bonds with bromoalkynes (inverse-Sonogashira reaction) directed by synthetically useful ester, ketone, and ether groups under rhodium catalysis Other less common directing groups such as amine, thioether, sulfoxide, sulfone, phenol ester, and carbamate are also suitable directing groups Mechanistic studies indicate that the reaction proceeds by a turnover-limiting C–H activation step via an electrophilic-type substitution

Broad-Scope Rh-Catalyzed Inverse-Sonogashira Reaction Directed by Weakly Coordinating Groups

Structure, bioactivities, biosynthetic relationships and chemical synthesis of the spirodioxynaphthalenes

Polyacetylenes of marine origin: chemistry and bioactivity.

Brominated polyunsaturated lipids from the Chinese sponge Xestospongia testudinaria as a new class of pancreatic lipase inhibitors.

Polyoxygenated diterpenoids of the eunicellin-type from the Chinese soft coral Cladiella krempfi

Covering: 1989 to September 2010
 The spirodioxynaphthalenes are a group of fungal secondary metabolites, consisting of a 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene-derived spiroketal unit linked to a second oxidized naphthalene moiety, that show a great variety of biological activities. This review summarizes the research on the isolation, structure elucidation, biological activities, biosynthesis, and chemical synthesis of the spirodioxynaphthalenes published over the last 20 years. More than 100 fungal and plant metabolites are described, and over 100 references cited.

You-Sheng Cai

Papers

Structure, bioactivities, biosynthetic relationships and chemical synthesis of the spirodioxynaphthalenes

Polyacetylenes of marine origin: chemistry and bioactivity.

Brominated polyunsaturated lipids from the Chinese sponge Xestospongia testudinaria as a new class of pancreatic lipase inhibitors.

Polyoxygenated diterpenoids of the eunicellin-type from the Chinese soft coral Cladiella krempfi

Structure, Bioactivities, Biosynthetic Relationships and Chemical Synthesis of the Spirodioxynaphthalenes