Stereoselective synthesis of hydroxylated 3-aminoazepanes using a multi-bond forming, three-step tandem process

A multi-bond forming, three-step tandem process involving a palladium(II)-catalysed Overman rearrangement and a ring closing metathesis reaction has been utilised for the efficient synthesis of a 2,3,6,7-tetrahydro-3-amidoazepine. Substrate directed epoxidation or dihydroxylation of this synthetic intermediate has allowed the diastereoselective synthesis of hydroxylated 3-aminoazepanes including the syn-diastereomer of the balanol core. Asymmetric synthesis of the 2,3,6,7-tetrahydro-3-amidoazepine motif was also achieved using a chiral palladium(II)-catalyst during the Overman rearrangement

Iraq through One Man\u27s Lens

Photojournalist Tony Overman ‘85 spends six weeks embedded with a Stryker Brigade in Iraq

Preparation of anti-vicinal amino alcohols: asymmetric synthesis of D-erythro-Sphinganine, (+)-spisulosine and D-ribo-phytosphingosine

Two variations of the Overman rearrangement have been developed for the highly selective synthesis of anti-vicinal amino alcohol natural products. A MOM-ether directed palladium(II)-catalyzed rearrangement of an allylic trichloroacetimidate was used as the key step for the preparation of the protein kinase C inhibitor D-erythro-sphinganine and the antitumor agent (+)-spisulosine, while the Overman rearrangement of chiral allylic trichloroacetimidates generated by asymmetric reduction of an alpha,beta-unsaturated methyl ketone allowed rapid access to both D-ribo-phytosphingosine and L-arabino-phytosphingosine

Britain's regional divide

Henry Overman considers the regional distribution of prosperity and the potential policy responses.

Big ideas: economic geography

Henry Overman sketches the evolution of CEP research on why prosperity is so unevenly distributed across cities, regions and nations

Man is a Downgoing

I write in pursuit of the question: what is the difference between Friedrich Nietzsche’s overman and the posthuman foretold by transhumanists? I have found two significant differences between Nietzsche’s overman and the posthuman: Nietzsche does not advocate for the extension of the human life in pursuit of the overman. Quite the opposite, it will take many generations of births and deaths to bring about the overman. Overlong lives block the way to the overman. Life extension is a universal principle of transhumanism. Nietzsche hates the value of equality. He despises its Christian origins. He argues that structural inequality, even a rigid caste structure, is most beneficial for bringing about the higher and highest types of man. Every transhumanist pays homage to equality

How did London get away with it?

Despite dire predictions, the UK capital has experienced a relatively mild recession, at least so far - Henry Overman asks what went right

HS2: assessing the costs and benefits

Henry Overman considers the arguments for and against building a new high-speed rail line from London to Birmingham.

NHS competition: bad science or bad blogging?

Following yesterday’s post criticising the LSE research that is underpinning the drive towards competition and choice in the NHS, Henry Overman provides a defence of the research findings and questions the extent to which public understanding of the evidence has been enhanced by this exchange

Sixth Force and Photonic Overman

In contrast to the Nietzschean conception of Übermensch as signifying, hitherto, a supermanhood in moral terms alone, the principle of the latter lies in its being antithetical to the present human status, and in its thus proving altogether superior both ontologically and physically. With this premise the notions of Sixth Force and Photonic Frame are now associated. Set forth after a qualitative fashion, while the former is related to the thus far known elemental constituents of matter, as well as to forces and interactions between matter particles, and under this form deemed to intangibly account for all the chaos, indeterminacy and otherwise imperfection or limit found so peculiar to man, the latter refers to an ultimate trait in the actual Overman touching a most luminous and unparalleled corporeality. An original conception of geometry in photonic terms is also propounded. Illustrations meeting at length with a semiotic process and literary hints add to the suggestion