Organocatalysis as a Safe Practical Method for the Stereospecific Dibromination of Unsaturated Compounds

Organocatalytic stereospecific dibromination of a wide variety of functionalized alkenes was achieved using a stable, inexpensive halogen source, 1,3-dibromo 5,5-dimethylhydantoin, and a simple thiourea catalyst at room temperature. The presence of a tertiary amine enhanced the rate of the dibromination reaction, and yields were good in various solvents, including aqueous solvents. The procedure was extended to alkynes and aromatic rings and to dichlorination reactions by using the 1,3-dichloro hydantoin derivative

Organocatalysis as a Safe Practical Method for the Stereospecific Dibromination of Unsaturated Compounds

Organocatalytic stereospecific dibromination of a wide variety of functionalized alkenes was achieved using a stable, inexpensive halogen source, 1,3-dibromo 5,5-dimethylhydantoin, and a simple thiourea catalyst at room temperature. The presence of a tertiary amine enhanced the rate of the dibromination reaction, and yields were good in various solvents, including aqueous solvents. The procedure was extended to alkynes and aromatic rings and to dichlorination reactions by using the 1,3-dichloro hydantoin derivative

Total Synthesis of Natural <i>p</i>‑Quinol Cochinchinenone

Cochinchinenone has been synthesized in only five steps and four pots and in 58% overall yield from commercially available 2,3-dimethoxy-4-hydroxy-benzaldehyde and OPMB-protected <i>p</i>-hydroxy acetophenone, the key step being the oxone-mediated oxidative dearomatization of the corresponding ketone-containing <i>p</i>-substituted phenol

Development of a Fluorescent Bodipy Probe for Visualization of the Serotonin 5‑HT_1A Receptor in Native Cells of the Immune System

Serotonin (5-HT) modulates key aspects of the immune system. However, its precise function and the receptors involved in the observed effects have remained elusive. Among the different serotonin receptors, 5-HT_1A plays an important role in the immune system given its presence in cells involved in both the innate and adaptive immune responses, but its actual levels of expression under different conditions have not been comprehensively studied due to the lack of suitable tools. To further clarify the role of 5-HT_1A receptor in the immune system, we have developed a fluorescent small molecule probe that enables the direct study of the receptor levels in native cells. This probe allows direct profiling of the receptor expression in immune cells using flow cytometry. Our results show that important subsets of immune cells including human monocytes and dendritic cells express functional 5-HT_1A and that its activation is associated with anti-inflammatory signaling. Furthermore, application of the probe to the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis model of multiple sclerosis demonstrates its potential to detect the specific overexpression of the 5-HT_1A receptor in CD4+ T cells. Accordingly, the probe reported herein represents a useful tool whose use can be extended to study the levels of 5-HT_1A receptor in ex vivo samples of different immune system conditions