Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Juha Siitonen @juhesiit.bsky.social · 7d

Our two-step total synthesis of monoterpene lactones Lappaceolide A and B appears in Org. Lett. ASAPs! Kudos to our postdoc Rajanish for troubleshooting the tricky domino reaction, and to undergraduate researchers Jenna and Leevi for initial route exploration. #chemsky
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...

Biomimetic Total Synthesis of (±)-Lappaceolides A and B

The first total synthesis of lappaceolides A and B is achieved in two steps by using a biomimetic vinylogous-Michael–oxa-Michael domino reaction. The domino reaction proceeds with Cs2CO3 in 1,2-DCE at...

pubs.acs.org

1 7

Juha Siitonen @juhesiit.bsky.social · Apr 29

The Magauer lab's full account on the total synthesis of ganoapplanin is out! This is a rare in-depth behind the scenes account that I'll no doubt use in teaching our total synthesis course at Aalto. Well worth a read! chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

Evolution of a Strategy for the Total Synthesis of the Ganoderma Meroterpenoid Ganoapplanin

Herein, the development of the first total synthesis of the Ganoderma meroterpenoid ganoapplanin is presented. Insights from unsuccessful approaches guide the design of an efficient route centered on....

chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com

1 5

Reposted by Juha Siitonen

John Trant @trantteam.bsky.social · Apr 13

Hey #Chemsky,

Does anyone know the story about acrolein? Like...why it isn't available anymore?

4 1 8

Reposted by Juha Siitonen

Jani Erola @janierola.net · Mar 27

My US-based colleagues, FYI:

Finnish Research Council is about to announce a special call to fund researchers abroad to relocate to Finland.

By all means this is not intended to lure you into moving to Finland, it just happens to be planned right now by pure chance.

6 120 310

Reposted by Juha Siitonen

Andy Lawrence @biomimetic-chem.bsky.social · Mar 19

A postdoctoral position, funded by the Leverhulme Trust for up to 36 months, is available to join my group at the University of Edinburgh. The project focuses on biomimetic approaches to natural product synthesis.

Deadline: 18th April 2025.

elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...

Postdoctoral Research Associate

The School of Chemistry invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate position to work under the supervision of Prof. Andrew Lawrence on a project funded by the Leverhulme Trust. The succ...

elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com

10 8

Reposted by Juha Siitonen

Andy Lawrence @biomimetic-chem.bsky.social · Mar 10

2 PhD studentships available (UK students only). Deadline: 4 April.

1. Machine Learning-Guided Synthetic Strategies for Natural Product Synthesis, with @king-smithgroup.bsky.social

www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

2. Biomimetic Total Synthesis of Natural Products

www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

Machine Learning-Guided Synthetic Strategies for Natural Product Synthesis at University of Edinburgh on FindAPhD.com

PhD Project - Machine Learning-Guided Synthetic Strategies for Natural Product Synthesis at University of Edinburgh, listed on FindAPhD.com

www.findaphd.com

2 3

Reposted by Juha Siitonen

Chris Asquith @chrisasquith.bsky.social · Mar 5

Hitting the target! Here is our recent review in Euro J Med Chem highlighting the uses and advantages of the very versatile Dimroth Rearrangement in both drug discovery and process chemistry.
@uniuef.bsky.social, @elsevierconnect.bsky.social, #chemsky - Check it out - doi.org/10.1016/j.ej...

1 3

Juha Siitonen @juhesiit.bsky.social · Mar 4

The link isn't working, here's the correct link: chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...

Method and Mechanistic Insights to 1,2‐Aminochlorinate Alkenes using Blue‐Light Activated Dichlorocarbamates

Blue light activation of N,N-dichlorocarbamates facilitates a direct 1,2-aminochlorination of unactivated olefins to yield 1,2-chloro-N-Cl compounds under ambient conditions. Mechanistic studies sugg...

chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com

1

Juha Siitonen @juhesiit.bsky.social · Mar 4

Check out our latest work on aminochlorination chemistry in Chem. Eur. J. N,N-dichlorocarbamates function as a operationally simple platform for generating N-centered radicals with blue light!
@aalto.fi #chemsky

doi.org/10.1002/chem...

1 2 16

Juha Siitonen @juhesiit.bsky.social · Feb 20

We used propargyl bromide for this. I've spent a lot of time trying to figure out a plausible biosynthesis for these. Eventually we chose not to include those in the paper. It would be cool to get to the bottom of this!

1

Juha Siitonen @juhesiit.bsky.social · Feb 20

Congratulations to our undergraduate researcher Minttu Karta for completing the total synthesis of sclerotioloid A and B! These small alkaloids are the first natural isolates to contain an N-propargyl group. Now out as #OpenAcess in @synlettjournal.bsky.social dx.doi.org/10.1055/s-00.... #chemsky

3 16

Reposted by Juha Siitonen

Jukka Suomela @jukkasuomela.fi · Jan 30

The Department of Computer Science at Aalto University (Finland) is hiring five (!) Assistant Professors in these areas:
- Computer Architecture
- Programming Languages
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Software Engineering
- Systems Security
www.aalto.fi/en/departmen...

Assistant Professor positions | Aalto University

We are looking for multiple assistant professors to join our department

www.aalto.fi

13 23

Juha Siitonen @juhesiit.bsky.social · Dec 25

#adventofcode 2024 completed! It was a ton of fun as usual. Overall this year felt a bit easier than the prior ones.

3

Juha Siitonen @juhesiit.bsky.social · Dec 24

I've completed "Crossed Wires" - Day 24 - Advent of Code 2024. Unexpectedly, my electronics hobby proved useful in part 2! #AdventOfCode adventofcode.com/2024/day/24

Day 24 - Advent of Code 2024

adventofcode.com

1

Juha Siitonen @juhesiit.bsky.social · Dec 12

I've completed "Garden Groups" - Day 12 - Advent of Code 2024 #AdventOfCode

Part 2 took a while, though! adventofcode.com/2024/day/12

Day 12 - Advent of Code 2024

adventofcode.com

4

Juha Siitonen @juhesiit.bsky.social · Dec 19

Blue light is enough to cleave the antibonding effect-weakened N-Cl bond of Cl2NBoc, facilitating mild aminochlorination of olefins. Our first method at Aalto University for constructing alkaloid scaffolds, and also our entry to photochemistry! doi.org/10.26434/che...

Blue Light-Induced 1,2-Aminochlorination of Olefins using Dichlorocarbamates

Activation of N,N-dichlorocarbamates with blue light facilitates a direct 1,2-aminochlorination of unactivated olefins to yield 1,2-chloro-N-Cl-carbamates under ambient conditions. Mechanistic studies...

doi.org

2

Juha Siitonen @juhesiit.bsky.social · Nov 19

Tässä ihan meripuiston kupeessa asuvana olen haaveillut jostain tällaisesta!

1

Juha Siitonen @juhesiit.bsky.social · Nov 13

We are developing a new course on molecular quantum mechanics, and I'd like to find a suitable textbook. Are there any quantum mechanics texts out there that would share the same level of clarity and rigor as Clayden has in organic chemistry? #ChemSky

3 2 4

Juha Siitonen @juhesiit.bsky.social · Nov 8

Alkuperäinen eristyspaperi doi.org/10.3390/md21... kuvaa CCK-8 assayn 20:lle solulinjalle, antibakteeriset, antifungaaliset, NO:n muodostumista inhiboivat kokeet. Näissä kokeissa sklerotolidi A:n ei valitettavasti havaittu tekevän mitään mielenkiintoista.

1

Juha Siitonen @juhesiit.bsky.social · Nov 4

Presto, nyt tälle molekyylille löytyi hyötyä! Prof. Pentikäinen @opentika.bsky.social on tosiaan maan johtavia laskennallisen lääkeainekemian asiantuntijoita. #KohtaApteekeissa?

1

Juha Siitonen @juhesiit.bsky.social · Nov 4

Tässä mun preprintti! Alkaloidi on siis ihan todella outo, koska siinä on N-propargyyliryhmä. Olen aivan varma, että tällä on jokin spessu biologinen rooli, mutten ole vielä sitä ymmärtänyt. Mikäli keksit jotain mihin tämä voisi sitoutua, jutellaan ehdottomasti lisää! doi.org/10.26434/che...

Total Synthesis of Sclerotioloid A

A four-step total synthesis of a structurally unique N-propargyllated 2,5-diketopiperazine alkaloid sclerotioloid A has been achieved. Structural studies point towards sclerotioloid A being a helicall...

doi.org

1 2

Juha Siitonen @juhesiit.bsky.social · Nov 4

Kuvassa on akatemian rahalla mun ryhmän labrassa syntetisoitua Sklerotioloidi A:ta. Ainetta on eristetty merisienistä vain häviäviä määriä. Aallossa on nyt tätä ainetta maailman suurin määrä. Sen biologinen aktiivisuus on tuntematon, mutta DKP-alkaloidit ovat usein bioaktiivisia. Hyötyä vai ei, hmm?

2

Juha Siitonen @juhesiit.bsky.social · Nov 4

This is a great point, and makes a lot of sense! I've never had silica residue issues when running manual columns, but this really adds up over time. Seems like people ovet at Biotage have looked into this issue: www.biotage.com/blog/does-me...

1 2

Juha Siitonen @juhesiit.bsky.social · Nov 3

Näitä perustellaan "hyödyllä". Tämä "hyöty" on ihmisille konkretiaa: huriseva peltilaatikko tai syötävä tabletti. Valtaosa perustutkimuksesta ei kuitenkaan tähtää tällaiseen "hyötyyn", vaan uuteen tietoon, jota firmat ja soveltavammat projektit käyttävät "hyödyllisiin" asioihin. Miten tämä avataan?

1 6

Juha Siitonen @juhesiit.bsky.social · Nov 3

Wow, thanks, now I know we are not just getting crazy! After washing the valve repeatedly with MeOH (didn't dare to sonicate) we managed to get the pressure down to <10 PSI in normal operation mode.