Atropostatin: Design and Total Synthesis of an Atropisomeric Lactone–Atorvastatin Prodrug

Atorvastatins play an important role in the inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme present in the liver that takes part in the biosynthesis of cholesterol. In this article, we report the total synthesis of a lactone–atorvastatin prodrug with additional atropisomeric features. Conformational and experimental studies of model compounds were designed to test the stability of the chiral axis. Docking calculations were performed to evaluate the constant inhibition of a library of atorvastatins. Full synthesis of the best candidate was achieved and thermally stable atropisomeric lactone–atorvastatin was obtained. The absolute configuration of the chiral axis of the atropisomers was assigned by means of chiroptical ECD spectroscopy coupled with TD-DFT calculations

On Resisting the Distraction of the Red Herring

This response to Hultgren’s position paper begins by examining elements of her argument. It weighs up the evidence for the assumptions which lead to her conclusions. Finally, it presents an alternative practical implication of her position

Ruthenium (0) complexes with NHC tetrazolylidene ligands: Synthesis, characterization and reactivity

Here we present two new phenyl-tetrazolylidene carbenes as ligands in non-mesoionic (1,4-substitution pattern) and mesoionic (1,3-substitution pattern) tetrazolylidene-cyclopentadienone ruthenium(0) complexes namely 1 and 2 respectively. The complexes have been obtained in good yield and fully characterized; X-ray structure determination confirmed the binding mode of the ligand for 2. Reactivity studies has been performed in order to shed light on the fact that the phenyl substituent position in the heterocyclic ligand can seriously change complexes behavior and stabilit

Reading Speed and Reading Comprehension in an English-Medium Instruction Context

The undeniable importance of reading in higher education prompted this investigation into the reading skills of a group often overlooked in previous research: master’s level students studying in English-medium instruction (EMI) environments. Participants (148 master's-level students of engineering) completed the Nelson-Denny Reading Test (Form G), a test of reading speed and reading comprehension. The results indicate that, at group level, these students attained levels of comprehension and rates of (silent) reading which are broadly comparable to those found for second-language users of English in better researched settings. However, a great deal of individual variation was observed, suggesting that some students may find it challenging to read for study purposes. The implications of these findings for various stakeholder groups in EMI are discussed

Teachers’ receptive and productive vocabulary sizes in English-medium instruction

Despite the growing popularity of English-medium instruction (EMI), the conditions for and consequences of teaching and learning academic content through English are poorly understood. The ability of teachers in the EMI environment (i.e. disciplinary or ‘content’ teachers) to engage students in English is central in this regard since intelligible interaction between the teacher and the students is a precondition for learning when the medium of instruction is English. Across EMI contexts, concerns have been raised about teachers’ level of English proficiency (their ability to speak, write, read and listen in English), but research measuring their English proficiency attainments is lacking. This paper focuses on a key dimension of teachers’ English proficiency: vocabulary knowledge. Teachers (n = 130) took tests of receptive and productive knowledge of general and academic English vocabulary. The testing revealed significant proficiency variation in the cohorts tested, with some teachers exhibiting very low levels (<3000 words) of receptive and productive vocabulary knowledge. Implications for teaching in EMI are discussed

A test of controlled productive knowledge of English academic vocabulary

Within the field of language education, language assessment is an important concern, for both pedagogical and research purposes. Vocabulary is a key aspect of language proficiency, underpinning the four skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening. In academic contexts, of particular importance is academic vocabulary, the part of the lexicon which is better represented in academic than in general discourse, and which constitutes a key dimension of students’ academic literacy. The present paper details the design and initial validation of a new test of controlled productive knowledge of English academic vocabulary. The test design closely follows that of the Productive Vocabulary Levels Test (Laufer & Nation, 1999) but the new instrument – named the Productive Academic Vocabulary Test – uses a different basis for defining academic vocabulary and employs an updated set of scoring principles. The test was validated using scores from 232 participants at three Swedish universities. Findings indicate that the test can discriminate levels of knowledge of English academic vocabulary amongst the target population and that the scoring principles provide a nuanced measure of vocabulary knowledge. Pedagogical and research implications are discussed

Central-to-Axial Chirality Conversion Approach Designed on Organocatalytic Enantioselective Povarov Cycloadditions: First Access to Configurationally Stable Indole–Quinoline Atropisomers

open8noWe acknowledge financial support from the University of Bologna (RFO program), MIUR (FFABR 2017), and F.I.S. (Fabbrica Italiana Sintetici).The first stereoselective synthesis of enantioenriched axially chiral indole–quinoline systems is presented. The strategy takes advantage of an organocatalytic enantioselective Povarov cycloaddition of 3-alkenylindoles and N-arylimines, followed by an oxidative central-to-axial chirality conversion process, allowing for access to previously unreported axially chiral indole–quinoline biaryls. The methodology is also implemented for the design and the preparation of challenging compounds exhibiting two stereogenic axes. DFT calculations shed light on the stereoselectivity of the central-to-axial chirality conversion, showing unconventional behavior.openBisag G.D.; Pecorari D.; Mazzanti A.; Bernardi L.; Fochi M.; Bencivenni G.; Bertuzzi G.; Corti V.Bisag G.D.; Pecorari D.; Mazzanti A.; Bernardi L.; Fochi M.; Bencivenni G.; Bertuzzi G.; Corti V

English Textbooks in Parallel-Language Tertiary Education

Tertiary education in many countries is increasingly bilingual, with English used in parallel with the national language, particularly as a reading language. This article describes the results of a survey of student attitudes toward, and reading practices regarding, English language textbooks. Over 1,000 students at three Swedish universities responded to a questionnaire asking about their experiences with English textbooks. Textbooks written in English were generally unpopular, and the perception was widespread that they placed a greater burden on students. However, respondents were divided about whether their reading behavior and their learning outcomes were affected by having a textbook in English, and about whether English texts were desirable. The findings of this study have implications for teaching practices in contexts in which students are asked to read, or are being prepared to read, in a second language. Implications for the English as a foreign language or English as a second language classroom are discussed.</p