Glycolipids represent a broad class of natural products structurally featured by a glycosidic fragment linked to a lipidic molecule. Despite the large structural variety of these glycoconjugates, they can be classified into three main groups, i.e., glycosphingolipids, glycoglycerolipids, and atypical glycolipids. In the particular case of glycolipids derived from marine sources, an impressive variety in their structural features and biological properties is observed, thus making them prime targets for chemical synthesis. In the present review, we explore the chemistry and biology of this class of compounds.

An electrochemically driven nickel-catalyzed enantioselective reductive cross-coupling of aryl aziridines with alkenyl bromides has been developed, affording enantioenriched β-aryl homoallylic amines with excellent E-selectivity. This electroreductive strategy proceeds in the absence of heterogeneous metal reductants and sacrificial anodes by employing constant current electrolysis in an undivided cell with triethylamine as a terminal reductant. The reaction features mild conditions, remarkable stereocontrol, broad substrate scope, and excellent functional group compatibility, which was illustrated by the late-stage functionalization of bioactive molecules. Mechanistic studies indicate that this transformation conforms with a stereoconvergent mechanism in which the aziridine is activated through a nucleophilic halide ring-opening process.

New synthetic strategies directed toward the novel cyclopeptides solomonamides have been explored utilizing an olefin metathesis as the key reaction. In the various strategies investigated, we worked on minimally oxidized systems, and the olefin metathesis reaction demonstrated efficiency and validity for the construction of the macrocyclic core. The described synthetic strategies toward the solomonamides are well suited for the subsequent access to the natural products and represent flexible and diversity-oriented routes that allow for the generation of a variety of analogues via oxidative transformations. In addition, preliminary biological evaluations of the generated solomonamide precursors revealed antitumor activity against various tumor cell lines.

The metathesis reactions, in their various versions, have become a powerful and extremely valuable tool for the formation of carbon–carbon bonds in organic synthesis. The plethora of available catalysts to perform these reactions, combined with the various transformations that can be accomplished, have positioned the metathesis processes as one of the most important reactions of this century. In this review, we highlight the most relevant synthetic contributions published between 2012 and early 2018 in the field of total synthesis, reflecting the state of the art of this chemistry and demonstrating the significant synthetic potential of these methodologies.1 Introduction2 Alkene Metathesis in Total Synthesis2.1 Total Synthesis Based on a Ring-Closing-Metathesis Reaction2.2 Total Synthesis Based on a Cross-Metathesis Reaction2.3 Strategies for Selective and Efficient Metathesis Reactions of Alkenes2.3.1 Temporary Tethered Ring-Closing Metathesis2.3.2 Relay Ring-Closing Metathesis2.3.3 Stereoselective Alkene Metathesis2.3.4 Alkene Metathesis in Tandem Reactions3 Enyne Metathesis in Total Synthesis3.1 Total Syntheses Based on a Ring-Closing Enyne-Metathesis Reaction3.2 Total Syntheses Based on an Enyne Cross-Metathesis Reaction3.3 Enyne Metathesis in Tandem Reactions4 Alkyne Metathesis in Total Synthesis4.1 Total Synthesis Based on a Ring-Closing Alkyne-Metathesis Reaction4.2 Other Types of Alkyne-Metathesis Reactions5 Conclusions

Small molecule ligand binding to the ATAD2 bromodomain is investigated here through the synergistic combination of molecular dynamics and protein crystallography. A previously unexplored conformation of the binding pocket upon rearrangement of the gatekeeper residue Ile1074 has been found. Further, our investigations reveal how minor structural differences in the ligands result in binding with different plasticity of the ZA loop for this difficult-to-drug bromodomain.