Geminal Difunctionalization of Vinylarenes: Concise Synthesis of 1,3-Dioxolan-4-ones

We report a straightforward method for the synthesis of five-membered 1,3-dioxolan-4-ones by an unprecedented oxidative alkene geminal difunctionalization strategy using α-hydroxy carboxylic acids. Under the geminal oxidative addition conditions, various substituted α-hydroxy carboxylic acids and styrenes containing a variety of substituents, including β-substituted styrenes, were effectively coupled regioselectively (anti-Markovnikov) with an isobutyl-substituted chiral α-hydroxy carboxylic acid, providing an annulation with excellent dia­­stereoselectivity. An aryl migration in the semipinacol rearrangement leading to geminal oxidative addition of the α-hydroxy carboxylic acids was confirmed by deuterium-labelling and control studies.

Hydroxycarboxylic acid receptors (version 2019.4) in the IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology Database

The hydroxycarboxylic acid family of receptors (ENSFM00500000271913, nomenclature as agreed by the NC-IUPHAR Subcommittee on Hydroxycarboxylic acid receptors [32, 10]) respond to organic acids, including the endogenous hydroxy carboxylic acids 3-hydroxy butyric acid and L-lactic acid, as well as the lipid lowering agents nicotinic acid (niacin), acipimox and acifran [47, 54, 57]. These receptors were provisionally described as nicotinic acid receptors, although nicotinic acid shows submicromolar potency at HCA2 receptors only and is unlikely to be the natural ligand [54, 57].

Organocatalytic asymmetric conjugate addition of diaryloxazolidin-2,4-diones to nitroolefins: an efficient approach to chiral α-aryl-α-hydroxy carboxylic acids

The first asymmetric conjugate addition of diaryloxazolidin-2,4-diones to nitroolefins using an l-threonine-based tertiary amine-urea catalyst has been developed.