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The bioconversion of furfural to furfuryl alcohol using only carrot bits in water at room temperature and ambient pressure is presented. This reaction led to the bioreduction of furfural with 99% conversion and 99% selectivity to an alcohol. This simple and “fully” green process may represent an alternative to classic hydrogenation processes. Also, without work-up procedure, we demonstrate the aqueous solution can be submitted to microwave irradiation to obtain 4-hydroxy-2-cyclopentenone.

Intrigued by the recent discovery of caramboxin by Brazilian researchers, we present the results from our studies toward the racemic synthesis of caramboxin analogs through the ortho-carboxylation of 3,5-dimethoxy benzyl derivatives. Three different approaches were tested, and the route involving a Vilsmeier-Haack formylation followed by a Lindgren oxidation provide a potential intermediate for the synthesis of several caramboxin analogs.

Many natives from Amazon use poison secreted by the skin of some colorful frogs (Dendrobatidae) on the tips of their arrows to hunt. This habit has generated interest in the isolation of these toxins. Among the over 500 isolated alkaloids, the most important is undoubtedly (-)-epibatidine. First isolated in 1992, by Daly from Epipedobates tricolor, this compound is highly toxic (LD50 about 0.4 µg per mouse). Most remarkably, its non-opioid analgesic activity was found to be about 200 times stronger than morphine. Due to its scarcity, the limited availability of natural sources, and its intriguing biological activity, more than 100 synthetic routes have been developed since the epibatidine structure was assigned. This review presents the recent formal and total syntheses of epibatidine since the excellent review published in 2002 by Olivo et al.1 Mainly, this review is summarized by the method used to obtain the azabicyclic core.

Many natives from Amazon use poison secreted by the skin of some colorful frogs (Dendrobatidae) on the tips of their arrows to hunt. This habit has generated interest in the isolation of these toxins. Among the over 500 isolated alkaloids, the most important is undoubtedly (-)-epibatidine. First isolated in 1992, by Daly from Epipedobates tricolor, this compound is highly toxic (LD50 about 0.4 µg per mouse). Most remarkably, its non-opioid analgesic activity was found to be about 200 times stronger than morphine. Due to its scarcity, the limited availability of natural sources, and its intriguing biological activity, more than 100 synthetic routes have been developed since the epibatidine structure was assigned. This review presents the recent formal and total syntheses of epibatidine since the excellent review published in 2002 by Olivo et al.1 Mainly, this review is summarized by the method used to obtain the azabicyclic core.