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Described herein is a straightforward synthesis of the monocyclic triterpene achilleol A using as key step titanium(III) chemistry. This synthesis confirms the previously described structure based on spectroscopic methods. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We present results, which indicate that Pd-mediated C–H bond activation can be used under mild conditions for the remote functionalization of C-4 methyl groups of molecules with different terpenoid-like skeletons containing six- or seven-membered A rings. This procedure has allowed us to complete a novel strategy for the synthesis of γ-dioxygenated terpenoids in three stages: (i) selective epoxidation of commercial polyenes, (ii) titanium(III)-catalyzed cyclization of epoxypolyprenes, and (iii) Pd-mediated remote functionalization of equatorial methyl groups. This strategy has proved to be useful for the synthesis of the natural labdane rostratone (1). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We report here a novel procedure for the reduction of ketones to secondary alcohols using catalytic quantities of commercially available Cp2TiCl2, inexpensive Zn dust and water as proton source. Mechanistically the reaction presumably proceeds via titanoxy radicals. In practice this reduction process has significant advantages: it shows an interesting selectivity pattern, takes place under mild conditions using safe, cheap reagents and does not require anhydrous solvents. The proton-donor activity of water under these conditions avoids the use of the frequently poisonous hydrogen-atom donors generally required to reduce free radicals. This procedure is also highly convenient for synthesising deuterium-labelled alcohols employing relatively inexpensive D2O as deuterium source. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this work, we have performed an in-depth study of the photophysics and solvatofluorochromism of a red-emitting Si-xanthene dye, an analog of Tokyo Magenta (TM) historically developed by Egawa et al. (Chem. Commun. 2011 , 47 , 4162–4164). The results show a strong dependency of the emission properties of 2-Me-4-OMe-TM on the polarity of the solvent. For instance, the dye exhibited an increase in its fluorescence lifetime with the decrease in solvent polarity. Therefore, in this work, this spectral behavior has been used as a new approach for determining the intracellular microenvironment polarity through the measurement of its fluorescence lifetime by Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM). Our experiments confirmed the ability of the dye to detect changes in polarity between different intracellular compartments. Image 1 • A silicon-substituted xanthene dye was synthesized and its photophysics studied. • The dye shows a strong solvatochromic behavior involving two emission bands. • A strong dependency on the solvent's acidity was observed in the red-shifted band. • The dye works as an intracellular polarity fluorescence lifetime sensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Streptococcus agalactiae is an important agent in the infection of neonates in the first world. One of the most extended methods for its identification is based on the detection of a characteristic red pigment in the patient samples, named [12]-granadaene (1). In this article, we present a modular and flexible approach to simple analogues of this ornithine rhamno-polyene 1 and the elucidation of the most important features of its structure: the absolute configuration at C-27, the stereochemistry of the anomeric center and the link of the amino acid ornithine to the rest of the structure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The formation of either deoxygenation products or allylic alcohols from epoxides is observed when these substrates are treated with Cp2TiCl under anhydrous conditions. It seems that processes via trisubstituted radicals give allylic alcohols whereas processes via disubstituted radicals may give deoxygenation products or allylic alcohols depending on the structure of the original epoxide. This method allows a controlled access to these functional groups, providing a useful tool in organic synthesis. A mechanistic discussion for these transformations is reported. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We present a divergent strategy for the stereoselective synthesis of both eudesmanolides (+)-tuberiferine and (+)-brachylaenolide starting from the accessible germacrolide (+)-costunolide. The key steps of these syntheses are the Ti-catalyzed transannular cyclization of a 1,4-epoxygermacrolide in the presence or absence of water, respectively. The catalytic cycle operating in the presence of water probably involves the reduction of a tertiary radical by H-atom transfer from aquacomplex Cp2TiIII(OH2)Cl. The catalytic cycle under anhydrous conditions presumably occurs through mixed disproportionation between a tertiary radical and Cp2TiIIICl. Synthetic (+)-tuberiferine and (+)-brachylaenolide displayed an antifungal potency against Phycomyces blakesleeanus comparable or even higher than amphotericin B, the gold standard for antifungal therapy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this work the preferential accumulation of long-lived acridone derivatives in mitochondria were evaluated, based on a new concept of non-protonable and non-charged group carriers. In this sense, the thiophene ring has been proved to act, for the first time, as mitochondria targeting group. Moreover, the unique long lifetime of the dyes has allowed the determination of the polarity of the organelles by fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM), without causing remarkable cytotoxicity. The neutral nature of the vectoring group favors the synthetic process and prevents the modification of different organelle parameters as membrane potential, making these probes excellent candidates to organelle tracking. Image 1 • Thiophene ring acts as unreported non-charged mitochondrial targeting group. • Long-lived fluorescent probes allow polarity determination inside mitochondria and lysosomes. • Co-localization in organelles has been analyzed with FLIM microscopy taking advantage of time-gated technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]