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 series of chiral pyrrolidine-sulfamides were prepared and examined as the catalysts for conjugate addition of ketones to nitroalkenes. Benzoic acid was identified as the most efficient additives for the transformation. Excellent enantioselectivities, diastereoselectivities, and yields were achieved for the reaction of cyclohexanone with β-aryl nitroethylenes under solvent free conditions. β-Isopropyl nitroethylene is also applicable and the product could be obtained with excellent enantioselectivity after extended reaction time. A comparison of the catalytic behaviors of pyrrolidine-sulfamide organocatalysts with different side chains demonstrates that the enantioselectivity is mainly controlled by the chiral pyrrolidine unit and the additional chiral center at the side chain exerts neglectable effects. The H-bonding interaction between the sulfamide and the nitro group is proposed to be crucial for the activation of the nitroalkene and the constitution of well-organized transition state. Chirality, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

A series of oxazolidinone derivatives with α-substituted acetylpiperazinyl groups were prepared. Their in vitro antibacterial activities were studied against Gram-positive pathogens, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Enterococcus faecalis. The compounds with chloroacetyl-piperazinyl or dichloroacetyl-piperazinyl group were found to have superior antibacterial activities to linezolid against most of tested Gram-positive pathogens. The compounds with propionylpiperaziny or fluoroacetylpiperazinyl group were found to have comparable antibacterial activities with linezolid. However, the replacement of phenyl ring of the compounds with pyridine ring resulted in the significant loss of antibacterial activity.

A series of eperezolid analogs with glycinyl substitutions were prepared and their antibacterial activities were studied against a panel of susceptible and resistant Gram-positive bacteria. The compounds with N-arylacyl or N-heteroarylacyl glycinyl structural units showed good antibacterial activities. The compounds 11b, 11c, and 11e were twofold more active than linezolid against Staphylococcus epidermidis and Enterococcus faecalis. Several pyridine analogs were also prepared and found to have poor antibacterial activity against most of the tested Gram-positive bacteria, however, one of the compounds 12e showed very high activity against Enterococcus faecalis.

The reaction of indole and its derivatives with aryldiazoacetates has been studied in the presence of copper and rhodium catalysts. The electronic property of N-1 substitutent showed significant effect on the reaction pathways. The electron-donating group favored the formation of the β-alkylation products, while the electron-withdrawing group favored the formation of the cyclopropane products. A reaction mechanism was proposed based on the experimental data and previous research results. The structure of aryl group in diazo compounds also affected the yield of the β-alkylation products or the cyclopropane products.