Diogo S. Lüdtke

Antioxidant Properties of New Chalcogenides Against Lipid Peroxidation in Rat Brain

Ebselen (2-phenyl- 1,2-benzisoselenazole-3 (2H)-one) is a seleno-organic compound with antioxidant properties, and anti-inflammatory actions. Recently, ebselen improved the outcome of acute ischemic stroke in humans. In the present study, the potential antioxidant capacity of organochalcogenide compounds diphenyl diselenide (PhSe)2, diphenyl ditelluride (PhTe)2, diphenyl disulfide (PhS)2, p-Cl-diphenyl diselenide (pCl-PhSe)2, bis-[S-4-isopropyl 2-phenyl oxazoline] diselenide (AA-Se)2, bis-[S-4-isopropyl 2-phenyl oxazoline] ditelluride (AA-Te)2 and bis-[S-4-isopropyl 2-phenyl oxazoline] disulfide (AA-S)2 was compared with that of ebselen (a classical antioxidant). Spontaneous and quinolinic acid (QA)- (2 mM) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP)- (5 μM)-induced thiobarbituric reactive species (TBARS) production by rat brain homogenates was determined colorimetrically. TBARS formation was reduced by ebselen, (PhSe)2, (PhTe)2, (AA-Se)2, (AA-S)2 and (pCl- PhSe)2 to basal rates. The concentrations of these compounds needed to inhibit TBARS formation by 50% (lC50) are 1.71 μM, 3.73 μM, 1.63 μM, 9.85 μM, > 33.3 μM, 23.2 μM and 4.83 μM, respectively for QA. For TBARS production induced by SNP the lC50 was 2.02 μM, 12.5 μM, 2.80 μM, > 33.3 μM, 24.5 μM and 7.55 μM, respectively. The compounds (AA-Te)2 and (PhS)2 have no antioxidant activity and pro-oxidant activity, respectively. These results suggest that (AA-Se)2 and (AA-S)2 can be considered as potential pharmaceutical antioxidant agents.

Chiral diselenide ligands for the asymmetric copper-catalyzed conjugate addition of Grignard reagents to enones

The copper-catalyzed conjugate addition of Grignard reagents to enones in the presence of chiral diselenide oxazoline ligands has been studied and found to provide good yields and useful levels of asymmetric induction.

Nucleophilic Addition of Potassium Alkynyltrifluoroborates to d-Glucal Mediated by BF3·OEt2: Highly Stereoselective Synthesis of α-C-glycosides

A convenient, mild and highly stereoselective method for C-glycosidation (alkynylation) of D-glucal with various potassium alkynyltrifluoroborates, mediated by BF3x OEt2 and involving oxonium intermediates, preferentially provides the alpha-acetylene glycoside products with good yields.

Catalytic enantioselective arylations: boron to zinc exchange as a powerful tool for the generation of transferable aryl groups

The transmetalation between boron and zinc is of great importance for application in organic synthesis, since it allows the formation of new carbon-carbon bonds between organometallic units and electrophiles. The direct arylation of aldehydes or more scarcely ketones, in a catalytic, enantioselective manner using chiral catalysts has been described recently. The enantiomerically enriched diarylmethanols obtained in these reactions are valuable precursors for important bioactive molecules. This review provides a synopsis of this ever-growing field and highlights some of the challenges that still remain.

New acetylenic furan derivatives: synthesis and anti-inflammatory activity

Abstract A series of acetylenic furan derivatives have been synthesized via Pd-catalyzed coupling reactions of 2-(alkyltelluro)furan with several terminal alkynes. These compounds showed good anti-inflammatory activity in the carrageenin-induced rat paw edema assay. This represents a new and efficient method for the synthesis of pharmacologically active compounds.

Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction of organotellurium dichlorides with terminal alkynes

The Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction of vinylic and heteroaromatic tellurium dichlorides has been explored, yielding the corresponding enynes and 2-alkynyl substituted heteroaromatic compounds. The reaction was carried out with PdCl2/CuI as catalysts and triethylamine as base, using methanol as solvent. The reaction proceeded under mild conditions and the cross-coupled products were obtained in good yields and in a stereoconservative manner.

Diastereoselective addition of arylzinc reagents to sugar aldehydes.

The diastereoselective arylation of sugar-derived aldehydes is described. The arylating reagents are generated in situ by a boron-to-zinc exchange reaction of arylboronic acids with Et(2)Zn to generate arylethylzinc reagents. The exquisite reactivity of the arylzinc reagents allowed for an efficient and mild arylation, delivering the corresponding products in diastereoisomeric ratios of up to >20:1. The utility of the methodology is highlighted with an efficient formal synthesis of (+)-7-epi-goniofufurone, a member of the styryllactone family of natural products.

Catalytic enantioselective arylation of aldehydes: boronic acids as a suitable source of transferable aryl groups

The catalytic enantioselective arylation of several aldehydes using boronic acids as the source of transferable aryl groups is described; the reaction is found to proceed in excellent yields and high enantioselectivities (up to 97% ee) in the presence of a chiral amino alcohol.

Synthesis of seleno-carbohydrates derived from d-galactose

The synthesis of seleno-galactopyranosides in a short and efficient manner is described, starting from the parent carbohydrate d-galactose. The approach described allows the synthesis of small libraries of compounds with a number of structural variations at the group attached to selenium. Compounds with aryl, propargyl, allyl, acyl, and alkyl substituents are described.

Chalcogen-containing oxazolines in the palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation

A comparative study about the ability of chiral chalcogen-containing oxazolines to act as chiral ligands in the palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylation of rac-1,3-diphenyl-2-propenyl acetate with dimethyl malonate is reported. Differences in the catalytic performance are observed with sulfur, selenium and tellurium analogues.