Saturday, July 31, 2010

Enantioselective Fp mediated alkene addition?

the above reaction is from wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclopentadienyliron_dicarbonyl_dimer


I am just wondering whether it is possible to make it enantioselective?
anyone did it already? not as I know.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

A proposal for englerin A synthesis

A hot molecular.
here I proposed a synthesis of Englerin A.

1. it is known we can open the epoxide from the more hindered/more stable site.

2. Single electron reduction then can form the required C-C bond and hopefully set the secondary alcohol.

The starting material can be prepared by C-H insertion. It is known to give trans fused 5,6 rings.


Wednesday, July 28, 2010

One method to enhance the power of the lab sonicator

Besides of getting a more powerful sonicator, there is a simple method you can try to get more power out of the old sonicator.
the method is described in a journal paper by a Japanese researcher.
The method is simple: just add detergent to the water bath.
The result is substantial.
the reason is ovbious that the polymer has big molecular weight than water so the long-distance energy-transfer-ability is better.

Don't believe ? try it! and post the result here.