In the present study the significant role of the α,β-unsaturated carbonyl structure in the anti-inflammatory activity of the natural humulane sesquiterpenoids zerumbone and zerumbone 2,3-epoxide was evidenced from a comparative study of the ability of zerumbone and zerumbone 2,3-epoxide to inhibit NF-κB activation and NO production in LPS (lipopolysaccharide)stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The IC50...

Eurycomanone and eurycomanol are two quassinoids from the roots of Eurycoma longifolia Jack. The aim of this study was to assess the bioactivity of these compounds in Jurkat and K562 human leukemia cell models compared to peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy donors. Both eurycomanone and eurycomanol inhibited Jurkat and K562 cell viability and proliferation without affecting healthy ...

Εniminium ions were prepared from the corresponding α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds (enones and enals), and were found to be promoted to their respective triplet states by energy transfer. The photoexcited intermediates underwent intra- or intermolecular [2+2] photocycloaddition in good yields (50-78 %) upon irradiation at λ=433 nm or λ=457 nm. Iridium or ruthenium complexes with a sufficien...

The synthesis of Pd nanoparticles (Pd-NPs) supported on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and the cataytic performance of the resulting material (PdNPs/MWCNTs) on hydrogenation reactions are presented. Facile preparation approaches based on the decomposition of Pd precursors in the presence of MWCNTs lead to homogeneous dispersions of supported Pd-NPs with average size of 4 nm and Pd loads ...

The synthesis of a new type of Hoveyda-Grubbs 2(nd) generation catalyst bearing a modified N-heterocyclic carbene ligands is reported. The new catalyst contains an NHC ligand symmetrically substituted with chromanyl moieties. The complex was tested in model CM and RCM reactions. It showed very high activity in CM reactions with electron-deficient α,β-unsaturated compounds even at 0 °C. It was a...