Mini-Reviews in Organic Chemistry - Volume 20, Issue 8, 2023

The extension of carbon chains, known as homologation, is one of the most fundamental operations of organic synthesis. One and two-carbon homologation reactions are of immense importance because they can be used for synthesizing members of a homologous series by iterative operations. Homologation reactions produce higher analogues of the same functional group, whereas homologation- functional group interconversion (FGI) generates higher analogues with a change in functionality. This general synthesis strategy may be counted for a number of reasons, such as higher accessibility to the successive homologs, a chance for the introduction of additional functionality, or solely to create a regular series of homologs. The advantages of homologation reactions could be measured by the efficiency, technical simplicity, and regio- and/or stereo-selectivity of the overall operations in a synthetic plan. Homologation reactions constitute powerful and versatile tools for preparative chemistry which uses different concepts underpinning the use of homologating reagents in addition to their applications in organic synthesis. A compilation and comparison of diverse methods available for homologation cum functional group interconversion will empower synthetic chemists to undertake studies that require a series of analogues. In this review, we have categorized and summarized such methods and synthetic applications of one and two-carbon homologation-functionalization of various functional groups in organic synthesis.

Malaria is a parasitic infection caused by Plasmodium parasites that are transmitted to humans through the bite of infected Anopheles mosquitoes. Malaria continues to contribute unacceptably high rates of sickness and death. Natural product compounds have long been recognized as one of valuable natural remedy resources with promising structural motif pools for the development of first-line drugs. Resistance to conventional treatments such as chloroquine, mefloquine, and artemisinin- based combination therapy (ACT) by the causal agent, the Plasmodium parasite, is a major concern in malaria treatment and prevention globally. Given the parasites' resistance to several current treatment regimens, innovative antimalarial chemotherapeutic medicines derived from tetramic acid alkaloids are desperately needed. In this review, new and old antimalarial alkaloids identified and reported recently from 2017 to 2021 are presented. Several compounds with promising antimalarial activity are identified from several subclasses of alkaloids. It is hoped that this review report will inspire future research into the compounds' toxicity and in vivo efficacy, to exploit this intriguing compound as antimalarial drugs.

Among the several heterocyclic compounds containing aza- and oxa-heterocycles are predominant due to their abundant biological importance. The nanoparticles have demonstrated excellent catalytic activity under optimum conditions with higher reusability or recyclability and higher yields of synthetic heterocyclic targets. Previously we reviewed the synthesis of aza- and oxa-heterocycles catalyzed by metal nanoparticles (MNPs) during 2009-2019 and published an update of such reports of 2020 on the same subject. With anticipations to the next, the present comprehensive work highlights the synthesis of aza- and oxa-heterocycles catalyzed by MNPs reported during the year 2021 to update the reader of the present work with the most recent trends in selection of MNPs in the synthesis of desired heterocyclic scaffolds.

Background: Acronychia is a genus of medicinal plants that were used traditionally to treat various ailments such as cough, asthma, sores, ulcers, itchy skin, fever, and rheumatism. Acronychia plants have a wide range of distribution, but they are mostly native to India, Siri Lanka, Australia, and Indochina since the 1950s Acronychia plants have been extensively used in phytochemical research and pharmacological examinations. Objective: The goal of this study is to structurally compile almost secondary metabolites from the title plants, as well as coverage of full information on their biomedical actions. Conclusion: Phytochemical profile of this genus is associated with the appearances of various chemical classes, including principal compounds type acetophloroglucinols and alkaloids, as well as other types coumarins, mono-phenols, flavonoids, phytosterols, lignans, xanthenes, and tocopherols. More than one hundred thirty secondary metabolites have been isolated. Naturally occurring acetophloroglucinols represented in both monomers and dimers, and most of them were new in nature. Phytochemical research based on GC-MS identification showed that Acronychia plants should be suitable for the cosmeceutical field and food chemistry due to the high content of volatiles. Acronychia extracts are safe in use, and they are increasingly exploited within pharmacological assays. In agreement with traditional properties, crude plant extracts, fractions, and their isolated compounds are well-known for antimicrobial, antioxidative, antiinflammatory, antiprotozal, antiarrhythmic, antinociceptive, antihistamine, and allelopathic activities, especially in terms of cytotoxicity. A sustainable use program should be established to aid the further studies of these medicinal plants.

Among various emerging organofluorine molecules, gem-difluorovinyl sulfonates are attractive building blocks and less used in organic reactions. This review article is concerned with recent advances in organic reactions using gem-difluorovinyl sulfonates in recent years. We discussed the reactions of gem-difluorovinyl sulfonates with aldehydes, amines, imines, amides, boronic acids, aryl halides, etc. or addition, reduction, substitution and intramolecular 1,3-sulfonyl migration of gemdifluorovinyl sulfonates in nine approaches. The synthetic strategies described in this review provided diversely substituted fluorinated molecules.