New methods capable of effecting cyclization, and forming novel three-dimensional structures while maintaining favourable physicochemical properties are needed to facilitate the development of cyclic peptide-based drugs that can engage challenging biological targets, such as protein-protein interactions. Here, we report a highly efficient and generally applicable strategy for constructing new types of peptide macrocycles using palladium-catalysed intramolecular C(sp)-H arylation reactions. Easily accessible linear peptide precursors of simple and versatile design can be selectively cyclized at the side chains of either aromatic or modified non-aromatic amino acid units to form various cyclophane-braced peptide cycles. This strategy provides a powerful tool to address the long-standing challenge of size- and composition-dependence in peptide macrocyclization, and generates novel peptide macrocycles with uniquely buttressed backbones and distinct loop-type three-dimensional structures. Preliminary cell proliferation screening of the pilot library revealed a potent lead compound with selective cytotoxicity toward proliferative Myc-dependent cancer cell lines.

CO2 was transformed into different products in mild conditions with high yield and excellent selectivity using a single catalyst.

Two neutral hexanuclear trigonal prismatic cage molecules have been synthesized by coupling two planar triangular M3pz3-panels, M = Cu(I) and Ag(I), in eclipsed geometry. The ~230 Å(3) cage volume can be either vacant or occupied by neutral guests. The crystal structures of the M6-cyclohexane and Ag6-S8 host-guest species have been determined.

Halogen-involving weak interactions manifested in the crystal structures of silver(I) or gold(I) 4-halogenated-3,5-diphenylpyrazolato trimers †