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Roquefornine A, a sesterterpenoid with an unprecedented 5/6/5/5/6-membered pentacyclic system, was characterized from Penicillium roqueforti YJ-14. Its structure was determined by extensive spectroscopic analyses, [Rh2(OCOCF3)4]-induced CD data, and DP4+ calculations. A biosynthetic pathway, cytotoxicity, and anti-inflammatory activity were also discussed.

A novel LiOPiv-promoted and palladium-catalysed formal [2 + 2 + 2] annulation reaction of vinyl triflates and o-silylaryl triflates via aryne intermediates has been developed. This methodology affords good to excellent yields of 9,10-substituted phenanthrenes (including cyclohexa[l]phenanthrenes) and is tolerant of a variety of functional groups such as ester, cyano, and ketone.

A new dimeric monoterpene indole alkaloid polonidine A (1), along with five known compounds, cyclopenol (2), verrucosidin (3), fructigenine A (4), 3-O-methylviridicatin (5) and aurantiomides C (6), were isolated from Penicillium polonicum TY12. Their structures were established on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses. Compound 1 exhibited moderate cytotoxic activities and moderate antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis with MIC of 4.0 μg/mL.

A new tremulane sesquiterpene, lactedine (1), along with seven known tremulane sesquiterpenes (2–8) and one known triterpene (9) were isolated from the fungus Irpex lacteus. Their structures were established on the basis of extensive spectroscopic data and DP4+ probability analyses.

Raman spectroscopy was applied to investigate the speciation in both single and mixed solutions of molybdate and vanadate at pH values from 10.0 to 1.0. Evidence was obtained for the difference of existing forms between these two elements. Vanadium mainly exists as (VO3)nn− while Mo is MoO42− in the pH range of 9.0–7.5. This difference is the theoretical basis for many available separation process. The species in the binary system was identified by comparing the Raman spectra with that in the single systems. Molybvanadates are formed below pH=6.5, which may partly be ascribed to the replacement of V atoms by Mo atoms in some V-O-V groups. Vanadium mainly exists as the decavanadate species in the pH range of 6.0–2.0. The predominant species of Mo are heteropolyanions having structural features of heptamolybdate rather than Mo8O264− and Mo36O1128− which are the predominant Mo species in single solution at pH=2.0–1.0.

Two previously undescribed seco-type C19-diterpenoid alkaloids, stylosines A and B (1–2), which possess an unprecedented opened D ring by the C(15)–C(16) broken bond forming a five-membered C(15)−O–C(14) lactone ring, together with 14 known diterpenoid alkaloids were isolated from the roots of Aconitum stylosum (Ranunculaceae). Compound 1 is the first reported C19-diterpenoid alkaloid with an α-orientation at H-13. Their structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic analyses, NMR calculations and DP4+ analysis. A plausible biosynthetic pathway of the undescribed compounds was proposed. Compounds 1 and 2 showed significant inhibitory activity against the production of inflammatory cytokines (interleukin 1β, cyclooxygenase-2, and tumor necrosis factor α) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus with MIC values of 2.00 and 32.00 μg/mL, respectively.