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Twenty glycoside derivatives and nine flavonoids from the leaves of Pueraria (P. thomsonii) were isolated by column chromatography and characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

An efficient synthesis of β-alkoxycarbonyl vinylsulfonium salts had been developed. Their reaction with indene-1,3-diones and other active methylene compounds provided cyclopropane carboxylates in good yields. A tentative reaction mechanism was proposed.

A series of novel 3-amidophenols with 5-heteroatomic substitutions were designed and synthesized. Several compounds showed potent antitubercular activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra (MIC = 0.25-5 μg/mL). Compounds 12j and 14i also displayed good inhibitory activity against M. tuberculosis H37Rv and two clinically isolated multidrug-resistant M. tuberculosis strains (MIC = 0.39-3.12 μg/mL). The privileged compound 14i showed certain oral efficacy on a mouse infection model. The compounds are non-cytotoxic against L-O2 hepatocytes and RAW264.7 macrophagocytes. They did not exert inhibitory activity against representative Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

A series of m-amidophenol derivatives (6a–6l, 7a–7q, 9a, 9b, 12a–12c, 14 and 15) were designed and synthesized. Their antitubercular activities were evaluated in vitro against M. tuberculosis strains H37Ra and H37Rv and clinically isolated multidrug-resistant M. tuberculosis strains. Ten compounds displayed minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) against M. tuberculosis H37Ra below 2.5 μg mL(–1) and 6g was the most active compound (MIC = 0.625 μg mL(–1)). Compounds 6g and 7a also showed potent inhibitory activity against M. tuberculosis H37Rv (MIC = 0.39 μg mL(–1)) and several clinically isolated multidrug-resistant M. tuberculosis strains (MIC = 0.39–3.125 μg mL(–1)). The compounds did not show inhibitory activity against normal Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. They exhibited low cytotoxicity against HepG2 and RAW264.7 cell lines. The results demonstrated m-amidophenol as an attractive scaffold for the development of new antitubercular agents.

A method for the intramolecular addition of triarylmethanes to alkynes has been developed. The reaction was efficiently promoted by KOtBu/DMF without any transition-metal catalyst. A variety of indene derivatives were prepared in moderate to good yields. A cascade cyclization of 2-alkyl-substituted substrates at elevated reaction temperature gave bicyclic indene derivatives. The reaction is proposed to proceed through the generation of a triphenylmethyl radical.

2-Aryl indoles could be prepared in excellent yields via the intramolecular cyclization of ο-alkynyl N,N-dialkylanilines. The reaction is efficiently promoted by the catalytic amount of KOt-Bu in DMSO at room temperature. A reaction mechanism involving α-aminoalkyl radical intermediates is suggested.

A new synthesis of phenanthrene derivatives has been achieved through intramolecular cyclization of 1,1′-biphenyl aldehydes and ketones promoted by KOt-Bu/DMF. A free radical reaction pathway is proposed.

A series of (3-benzyl-5-hydroxyphenyl)carbamates were evaluated as new antibacterial agents. Several compounds showed potent inhibitory activity against sensitive and drug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria. The compounds are ineffective against all tested Gram-negative bacteria. The structure of the ester group exerted a profound effect on antibacterial activity. 4,4-Dimethylcyclohexanyl carbamate 6h exhibited the most potent inhibitory activity against the standard and clinically isolated Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Enterococcus faecalis (minimum inhibitory concentration = 4-8 µg/ml) strains. The preliminary experimental evidence indicated that these carbamates target the bacterial cell wall and share a similar mechanism of action with vancomycin.

A method for the intramolecular addition of triarylmethanes to alkynes has been developed. The reaction was efficiently promoted by KOtBu/DMF without any transition-metal catalyst. A variety of indene derivatives were prepared in moderate to good yields. A cascade cyclization of 2-alkyl-substituted substrates at elevated reaction temperature gave bicyclic indene derivatives. The reaction is proposed to proceed through the generation of a triphenylmethyl radical.

A new synthesis of phenanthrene derivatives has been achieved through intramolecular cyclization of 1,1′-biphenyl aldehydes and ketones promoted by KOt-Bu/DMF. A free radical reaction pathway is proposed.

It is suggested, that a DMSO radical generated in tBuOK/DMSO systems works as the crucial initiator for the title cyclization process.