Manganese catalysed C–H activation has emerged as a promising green alternative to transition metal mediated processes.

Aryl-heteroaryl coupling via double C-H activation is a powerful transformation that avoids the installation of activating groups. A double C-H activation of privileged biological scaffolds, 2-coumarins and 2-pyrones, is reported. Despite the rich chemistry of these molecular frameworks, the yields are very good. Excellent regioselectivity was achieved on the pyrones. This methodology was applied to the synthesis of flemichapparin C in three steps. Isotope effect experiments were carried out, and a mechanism is proposed.

The CÀ H functionalisation approach to the synthesis of dibenzofurans is hampered by a number of problems. Herein we describe the evolution of a cheap, bench stable quinoline ligand, which obviates most of the current limitations and allows for a high yielding synthesis of a range of valuable dibenzofurans. Dibenzofurans are important motifs in natural products and compounds with wide biological activity.

Antibiotic resistance has grown significantly in the last three decades, while research and development of new antibiotic classes has languished. Therefore, new chemical frameworks for the control of microbial behavior are urgently required. This study presents a novel suite of compounds, based on a tricyclic 4-hydroxy-2 H -pyrano[3,2- c ]quinoline-2,5(6 H )-dione core, with significant antibiotic activity against the ESKAPE pathogens Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis and the “accidental pathogen” Staphylococcus epidermidis . A potent analogue with an N -heptyl-9- t- Bu substitution pattern emerged as a hit with MIC levels ≤2 μg/mL across four strains of MRSA. In addition, the same compound proved highly potent against Enterococcus spp. (0.25 μg/mL).

Organic chemistry often represents a key impasse for students during their third level science education. Both intrinsic and extrinsic factors contribute to perceived difficulties in learning the subject. Moreover, the teaching of multi-step organic synthesis at third level has well-documented challenges. At University College Cork (UCC), we have adopted a strategy to engage students at the mid to late degree stage using an innovative teaching hook, to inspire interest and engagement. The approach was taken to outline chronologically some of the seminal breakthroughs in synthesis, and organic chemistry more generally, from the 1950 s to a few of the current leaders of today. Importantly the focus is on the people, the circumstance and the stories surrounding them. As a relevance-based hooking strategy grounded in a storytelling pedagogy, the goal was to inform students of the potential in organic chemistry and thus spark their interest for the subsequent lectures. Over multiple interventions, feedback from students has been highly positive. We posit that the design framework behind the ‘The People and Personalities’ could be adapted to many disciplines in a similarly successful manner. Overall, this approach proved inspirational for students, and was a most timely intervention in their degree program.