Paolo Venturello

Silica gel functionalized with amino groups as a new catalyst for Knoevenagel condensation under heterogeneous catalysis conditions

Abstract Knoevenagel condensation has been carried out under heterogeneous catalysis conditions using amino groups immobilized on silica gel: the results show that the catalytic support is recoverable without regeneration, and that the matrix probably participates to the catalysis mechanism.

Suzuki-Miyaura Cross-Coupling in Acylation Reactions, Scope and Recent Developments

Since the first report and due to its handiness and wide scope, the Suzuki-Miyaura (SM) cross coupling reaction has become a routine methodology in many laboratories worldwide. With respect to other common transition metal catalyzed cross couplings, the SM reaction has been so far less exploited as a tool to introduce an acyl function into a specific substrate. In this review, the various approaches found in the literature will be considered, starting from the direct SM acylative coupling to the recent developments of cross coupling between boronates and acyl chlorides or anhydrides. Special attention will be dedicated to the use of masked acyl boronates, alkoxy styryl and alkoxy dienyl boronates as coupling partners. A final section will be then focused on the acyl SM reaction as key synthetic step in the framework of natural products synthesis.

A new class of conjugated strigolactone analogues with fluorescent properties: synthesis and biological activity

A new class of strigolactone analogues has been synthesized. They differ from known molecules, both of natural and synthetic origin, in two main features. The conjugated system extends from the enol ether bridge to the A ring, the B ring is a heterocycle while the C ring is a cyclic ketone instead of a gamma-lactone. The key step of the synthesis is a Nazarov cyclization on activated substrates. Bioassays using Orobanche seeds have revealed that all the molecules strongly stimulate germination; in particular the oxygen containing analogues are the most active. Interestingly, some of the new molecules show fluorescent properties.

Enthalpies of solvation in cyclohexane and in water for homologous aliphatic ketones and esters

The standard enthalpies of solution at infinite dilution were determined for homologous aliphatic ketones and esters in water and in cyclohexane, using a rotating Calvet calorimeter, and solution concentrations about 5×10−4 mole fraction. Vaporization enthalpies, obtained for each compound with an effusion calorimetric cell, were added to calculate the solvation enthalpies. Their dependence on the number of carbon atoms in the chain is discussed in terms of the Friedman and Krishnan treatment. The effect of polarization of the functional groups is evaluated, and separation from the influence of chain length and the hydrophobic interactions of the methylenes is attempted. For the aqueous solutions, the rearrangement in the structure of the solvent around solute molecules is also considered in relation to deviations from linearity. Comparisons are made with solvation enthalpies obtained for ketones and esters with branched or cyclic substitutes.

The Heck Reaction Applied to 1,3- and 1,2-Unsaturated Derivatives, a Way towards Molecular Complexity

This review is an overview of the last ten years’ use of the Mizoroki–Heck coupling applied to 1,2- and 1,3-dienes. Since both these systems form π-allyl palladium intermediates in Pd(0) coupling, they show particular chemical behavior. Many examples of 1,2-dienes Heck reactions are presented. 1,2-Dienes are important substrates because of their high reactivity that makes them useful building blocks for the synthesis of biologically relevant structures.

MRI-guided neutron capture therapy by use of a dual gadolinium/boron agent targeted at tumour cells through upregulated low-density lipoprotein transporters.

The upregulation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) transporters in tumour cells has been exploited to deliver a sufficient amount of gadolinium/boron/ligand (Gd/B/L) probes for neutron capture therapy, a binary chemio-radiotherapy for cancer treatment. The Gd/B/L probe consists of a carborane unit (ten B atoms) bearing an aliphatic chain on one side (to bind LDL particles), and a Gd(III)/1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane monoamide complex on the other (for detection by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)). Up to 190 Gd/B/L probes were loaded per LDL particle. The uptake from tumour cells was initially assessed on cell cultures of human hepatoma (HepG2), murine melanoma (B16), and human glioblastoma (U87). The MRI assessment of the amount of Gd/B/L taken up by tumour cells was validated by inductively coupled plasma-mass-spectrometric measurements of the Gd and B content. Measurements were undertaken in vivo on mice bearing tumours in which B16 tumour cells were inoculated at the base of the neck. From the acquisition of magnetic resonance images, it was established that after 4-6 hours from the administration of the Gd/B/L-LDL particles (0.1 and 1 mmol kg(-1) of Gd and (10)B, respectively) the amount of boron taken up in the tumour region is above the threshold required for successful NCT treatment. After neutron irradiation, tumour growth was followed for 20 days by MRI. The group of treated mice showed markedly lower tumour growth with respect to the control group.

Amino groups immobilized on silica gel: an efficient and reusable heterogeneous catalyst for the Knoevenagel condensation

Silica gel functionalized with amino groups is a useful insoluble catalyst for the Knoevenagel condensation: the reaction can be carried out under continuous-flow conditions and good yields are obtained when aromatic aldehydes, cyclohexanone, and acetophenone react with ethyl acetoacetate, ethyl cyanoacetate, and malononitrile. Lower yields are obtained in the case of ethyl benzoylacetate and acetylacetone; this fact and the easy dehydration of the aldol intermediate strongly suggest the participation of the residual free silanol groups of the matrix in the catalysis mechanism.

Synthesis of Weinreb Amides via Pd-Catalyzed Aminocarbonylation of Heterocyclic-Derived Triflates

The direct transformation of lactam-, lactone-, and thiolactone-derived triflates into N-methoxy-N-methyl or morpholine Weinreb amides has been realized using Pd-catalyzed aminocarbonylation under CO atmospheric pressure and at room temperature. The carbonylative coupling can be efficiently carried out with 2% of catalyst in the presence of Xantphos as a ligand. The amides smoothly react with nucleophiles to afford acylated aza-, oxa-, and thio-heterocycles. The proposed methodology could be advantageously exploited for the synthesis of dienones in which one of the double bonds is embedded in a heterocyclic moiety, as useful substrates for Nazarov cyclization.

Reactivity of α,β-unsaturated acetals with electrophiles in the presence of organolithium–potassium reagents

2-Propenyl- and 2-(2-methylpropenyl)-1,3-dioxane react with 2 equiv. of sec-butyllithium complexed with potassium tert-butoxide in tetrahydrofuran (THF) at –95 °C undergoing a 1,4 eliminative ring fission with subsequent proton abstraction at the α vinyl site of the enol ethers produced; carbanions obtained undergo substitution and addition reactions with electrophiles.

A Carborane‐Derivative “Click” Reaction under Heterogeneous Conditions for the Synthesis of a Promising Lipophilic MRI/GdBNCT Agent

In this study, the Huisgen reaction has been used to functionalise a carborane cage with a lipophilic moiety and a 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) ligand to obtain a new Gd boron neutron-capture therapy (BNCT)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) agent. The introduction of the triazole units has been accomplished under both heterogeneous conditions, by the use of a Cu-supported ionic-liquid catalyst, and homogeneous conditions. The ability of the Gd complex of the synthesised ligand to form stable adducts with low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) has been evaluated and then MRI has been performed on tumour melanoma cells incubated in the presence of a Gd-complex/LDL imaging probe. It has been concluded that the high amount of intracellular boron necessary to perform BNCT can be reached even in the presence of a relatively low-boron-containing LDL concentration.