Abstract:Hinokinin is a lignan isolated from several plant species that has been recently investigated in order to establish its biological activities. So far, its cytotoxicity, its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities have been studied. Particularly interesting is its notable anti-trypanosomal activity.

An efficient, chemoselective homologation of disulfides and diselenides to the corresponding dithio- and diselenoacetals has been developed via the addition of bromomethyllithium. Chemoselectivity is fully preserved in the presence of concomitant electrophilic sites decorating the substrates. The synthetic potential of selected dithioacetals has been evaluated in Feringa-Fañanas-Mastral-type Pd-catalyzed coupling with an organolithium and in the unusual 1,4-addition to a Weinreb amide.

No abstract

A high-yielding, one-pot, three-component synthesis of functionalized 2-amino-4H-pyrans from β-dicarbonyl compounds, activated cyanomethylene compounds, and aldehydes, mediated by potassium-exchanged zirconium hydrogen phosphate [α-Zr(KPO 4) 2 ], is reported. The protocol shows excellent versatility, as it can be applied to aromatic, aliphatic, or α,β-unsaturated aldehydes under solvent-free conditions.