A series of 2-(acetamide-2-yl)-imidazolines (II) with 5 points of diversity were prepared by an Ugi-4CR–Staudinger–aza-Wittig-sequence starting from simple azidoalkylamines. The intramolecular aza-Wittig cyclization between the iminophosphane and the tertiary amide of the Ugi product (I) was effected by short microwave irradiation. Competitive cyclization to the secondary amide was not relevant, however, in some cases subsequent formation of the bicyclic ortho-amidines (III) was observed.

A one-pot procedure for the phosphorylation of alcohols provides the corresponding phosphate monoesters in improved yields. The protocol features the use of tetrabutylammonium hydrogen phosphate and trichloroacetonitrile, followed by purification of the crude product by flash chromatography on silica gel. The final step, cation exchange chromatography, affords the organophosphates as ammonium salts that are usually required for biochemical applications. The mechanism appears to be phosphate rather than alcohol activation by trichloroacetonitrile.

The synthesis and applications of 4-isocyanopermethylbutane-1,1,3-triol (IPB) as a new convertible isonitrile (isocyanide) for isocyanide-based multicomponent reactions (IMCRs) like Ugi, Ugi-Smiles, and Passerini reactions are described. The primary products obtained from these IMCRs can be converted into highly activated N-acylpyrroles, which upon treatment with nucleophiles can be transformed into carboxylic acids, esters, amides, alcohols, and olefins. In this sense the reagent can be seen as a neutral carbanion equivalent to formate (HO2C−), and carboxylates or carboxamides etc. (RNu-CO−).

Indazolones are medicinally relevant targets. Herein we disclose an improved synthesis to N′-(acetamido-2-yl)-substituted indazolones with four points of diversity introduced by Ugi-[M]-amination and -amidation. The ring closure can be achieved by either conventional palladium catalysis or with a ligandless copper protocol. When α-unbranched isocyanides were employed the sole cyclization products of the copper catalyzed reactions are the hitherto undescribed 2-hydroxy-3H-3,4a,9a-triaza-fluorene-4,9-diones.

A variety of 1,6-enynes were synthesized by an Ugi-reaction and further elaborated by a PdII/IV catalyzed oxidative cyclization to produce N-substituted 3-aza-bicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-2-ones. Different substitution patterns were tested to examine the scope and limitations of the amide tethered substrates.

The pigments of Opuntia ficus‐indica fruits, which are derived from the betalain rather than anthocyanin pathway, have an extraordinary range in colour from lime green, orange, red to purple. This is a result from varying concentrations and proportions of about half a dozen betaxanthins and betacyanins. The yellow‐orange betaxanthins are derived from spontaneous condensation of betalamic acid with amines or amino acids. The reddish‐purple betacyanins are enzymatically formed from betalamic acid and cyclo ‐dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) yielding betanidin and further glycosylated on either of the two hydroxyls of the cyclo ‐DOPA moiety. In the present work, degenerated primers were used to obtain partial genomic sequences of two major genes in the biosynthetic pathway for betalains, that is the 4,5‐extradiol dioxygenase which forms the betalamic acid responsible for the yellow colour and a putative 5‐O ‐glucosyltransferase which glycosylates betanidin in Dorotheanthus bellidiformis and may be responsible for the red colour. Differences in the genomic DNA between coloured versus non‐coloured varieties were not found. Regulatory mechanisms seem to independently control pigmentation of O. ficus‐indica fruit tissues for inner core, peel and epidermis. Core pigmentation occurs first and well before fruit maturity and peel pigmentation. Peel pigmentation is fully developed at maturity, presumably related to maximum soluble solids. Epidermal pigmentation appears to be independent of core and peel pigmentation, perhaps because of light stimulation. Similar control mechanisms exist through transcription factors for the major enzyme regulating anthocyanin production in grapes.

The scope of chromium(II)/cobalt(I)-catalyzed Takai–Utimoto reactions was extended to substrates with unprotected reactive functional groups. In the presence of a higher chlorosilane and manganese the first chromium(II)/cobalt(I)-catalyzed version for the coupling of oxoalkylhalides with aldehydes resulted.

Optically active seleno- and telluro amino acids can be synthesized from serine via its β-lactone with selenides and tellurides under overall retention of the serine stereochemistry. Boc-protected l-selenolanthionine, l-tellurolanthionine, l-selenocystine, l-tellurocystine and l-tellurocysteine derivatives can be obtained in good yields.

Pyrrolidinylmethanols, easily accessible from readily available (S)-proline, were applied in zinc-catalyzed addition of arylboronic acids to aromatic aldehydes; the reaction was found to proceed in excellent yields and high enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee).

The process of catalytic dephosphorylation of geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP) to give geranylgeraniol (GGOH) in Croton stellatopilosus leaves was examined by in vivo chloroplast feedings with [1-3H]GGPP and [1-3H]GGMP and in vitro enzyme-catalyzed reactions. The results strongly suggest that the formation of GGOH from GGPP proceeds in the chloroplasts via two successive monodephosphorylation reactions. Hence, we name the enzyme geranylgeranyl diphosphate phosphatase rather than geranylgeranyl diphosphatase based on its catalytic mechanism.