Rapid Total Synthesis of (±)Trigonoliimine A via a Strecker/Houben–Hoesch Sequence

A novel synthetic route to the hexacyclic system of trigonoliimine A was accomplished in four steps from <i>N</i>-phthaloyl 6-OMe-tryptamine. Key reactions include a three-component Strecker-type reaction to fashion the two C–N bonds in the D ring and a subsequent Houben–Hoesch type cyclization to deliver the characteristic seven-membered C ring

Potentials-Attract or Likes-Attract in Human Mate Choice in China

<div><p>To explain how individuals’ self-perceived long-term mate value influences their mate preference and mate choice, two hypotheses have been presented, which are “potentials-attract” and “likes-attract”, respectively. The potentials-attract means that people choose mates matched with their sex-specific traits indicating reproductive potentials; and the likes-attract means that people choose mates matched with their own conditions. However, the debate about these two hypotheses still remains unsolved. In this paper, we tested these two hypotheses using a human’s actual mate choice data from a Chinese online dating system (called the Baihe website), where 27,183 users of Baihe website are included, in which there are 590 paired couples (1180 individuals) who met each other via the website. Our main results show that not only the relationship between individuals’ own attributes and their self-stated mate preference but also that between individuals’ own attributes and their actual mate choice are more consistent with the likes-attract hypothesis, i.e., people tend to choose mates who are similar to themselves in a variety of attributes.</p> </div

Correlations between stated mate preference and actual mate choice for both men and women.

<p>N = 590 women and 590 men. Significant <i>P</i>-values are indicated in bold.</p

Results from MLR of women’s stated mate preference regressed on their own attributes.

<p>N = 13677. Significant <i>P</i>-values are indicated in bold.</p>a<p>Self-attract refers to self-rated physical attractiveness.</p

Correlations between attributes in the same evolutionary category for personal items and mate preferences.

<p>Women, n = 13677; Men, n = 13506. Significant <i>P</i>-values are indicated in bold.</p>a<p>Self-attract refers to self-rated physical attractiveness.</p

Results from MLR of women’s actual mate choice regressed on their own attributes.

<p>N = 590. Significant <i>P</i>-values are indicated in bold.</p>a<p>Self-attract refers to self-rated physical attractiveness.</p

Results from MLR of men’s actual mate choice regressed on their own attributes.

<p>N = 590. Significant <i>P</i>-values are indicated in bold.</p>a<p>Self-attract refers to self-rated physical attractiveness.</p

Results from MLR of men’s stated mate preference regressed on their own attributes.

<p>N = 13506. Significant <i>P</i>-values are indicated in bold.</p>a<p>Self-attract refers to self-rated physical attractiveness.</p

Host–guest interactions of thiabendazole with normal and modified cucurbituril: ¹H NMR, phase solubility and antifungal activity studies

<div><p>Guest–host inclusion complexes between thiabendazole (TBZ) and cucurbit[7]uril (Q[7]), symmetrical tetra-methylcucurbit[6]uril (TMeQ[6]) and meta-hexamethyl-substituted cucurbit[6]uril (HMeQ[6]) in aqueous solution were investigated by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and phase solubility studies. The antifungal activities of the inclusion complexes were also determined. Analysis of the ¹H NMR spectra revealed that the host Q[7] selectively binds the benzimidazole ring moiety of the guest molecule and that the thiazole ring is encapsulated into the cavities of TMeQ[6] and HMeQ[6]. Phase solubility diagrams were analysed using rigorous procedures to obtain estimates of the complex formation constants for Q[<i>n</i>]-TBZ complexation. The phase solubility studies showed that TBZ solubility increased as a function of Q[7], TMeQ[6] and HMeQ[6] concentrations. We found that complexation of TBZ with Q[<i>n</i>] increased the inhibitory effect of TBZ on the growth of <i>Fusarium graminearum</i>. Our results thus demonstrate that complexation of TBZ with Q[<i>n</i>] could be used to improve the solubility and antifungal activity of TBZ.</p></div

Bioactive Limonoid Constituents of <i>Munronia henryi</i>

Fourteen new limonoids, munronins A–N (<b>1</b>–<b>14</b>), and eight known limonoids (<b>15</b>–<b>22</b>) were isolated from the whole plants of <i>Munronia henryi</i>. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by 2D NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, and the structure of <b>8</b> was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Compound <b>1</b> represents the first limonoid found with a novel 7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]­heptane moiety produced by incorporating C-11 and C-14 via an oxygen atom. All compounds were evaluated for their anti-tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) activity and in vitro cytotoxicity against the human cancer HL-60, SMMC-7721, A-549, MCF-7, and SW-480 cell lines. Among them, compounds <b>2</b>, <b>8</b>, <b>9</b>, <b>10</b>, <b>11</b>, <b>12</b>, <b>18</b>, and <b>20</b> showed significant anti-TMV activity, with IC₅₀ values in the range 19.6–44.4 μg/mL. Compounds <b>1</b> and <b>18</b> exhibited cytotoxic effects for all five cancer cell lines, with IC₅₀ values between 0.4 and 4.8 μM