NobleBlocks

Laboratoire COBRA

facilityMont-Saint-Aignan, Normandy, France

Research output, citation impact, and the most-cited recent papers from Laboratoire COBRA (France). Aggregated across the NobleBlocks index of 300M+ scholarly works.

Total works
3.1K
Citations
173.9K
h-index
125
i10-index
4.2K
Also known as
COBRA LaboratoryChimie organique, Bioorganique, Réactivité et AnalyseLaboratoire COBRALaboratoire de Chimie Organique et AnalytiqueOrganic and Analytical Chemistry LaboratoryUMR 6014UMR6014

Top-cited papers from Laboratoire COBRA

A comprehensive overview of directing groups applied in metal-catalysed C–H functionalisation chemistry
Carlo Sambiagio, David Schönbauer, Rémi Blieck, Toan Dao‐Huy +4 more
2018· Chemical Society Reviews1.6Kdoi:10.1039/c8cs00201k

The present review is devoted to summarizing the recent advances (2015-2017) in the field of metal-catalysed group-directed C-H functionalisation. In order to clearly showcase the molecular diversity that can now be accessed by means of directed C-H functionalisation, the whole is organized following the directing groups installed on a substrate. Its aim is to be a comprehensive reference work, where a specific directing group can be easily found, together with the transformations which have been carried out with it. Hence, the primary format of this review is schemes accompanied with a concise explanatory text, in which the directing groups are ordered in sections according to their chemical structure. The schemes feature typical substrates used, the products obtained as well as the required reaction conditions. Importantly, each example is commented on with respect to the most important positive features and drawbacks, on aspects such as selectivity, substrate scope, reaction conditions, directing group removal, and greenness. The targeted readership are both experts in the field of C-H functionalisation chemistry (to provide a comprehensive overview of the progress made in the last years) and, even more so, all organic chemists who want to introduce the C-H functionalisation way of thinking for a design of straightforward, efficient and step-economic synthetic routes towards molecules of interest to them. Accordingly, this review should be of particular interest also for scientists from industrial R&D sector. Hence, the overall goal of this review is to promote the application of C-H functionalisation reactions outside the research groups dedicated to method development and establishing it as a valuable reaction archetype in contemporary R&D, comparable to the role cross-coupling reactions play to date.

Asymmetric Construction of Stereogenic Carbon Centers Featuring a Trifluoromethyl Group from Prochiral Trifluoromethylated Substrates
Jing Nie, Hongchao Guo, Dominique Cahard, Jun‐An Ma
2010· Chemical Reviews1.1Kdoi:10.1021/cr100166a

International audience

Update 1 of: Asymmetric Fluorination, Trifluoromethylation, and Perfluoroalkylation Reactions
Jun‐An Ma, Dominique Cahard
2008· Chemical Reviews883doi:10.1021/cr800221v

ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEReviewNEXTUpdate 1 of: Asymmetric Fluorination, Trifluoromethylation, and Perfluoroalkylation ReactionsJun-An Ma† and Dominique Cahard*‡View Author Information Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China, and UMR 6014 CNRS, laboratoire COBRA de l'IRCOF (Institut de Recherche en Chimie Organique Fine), Université et INSA de Rouen, Rue Tesniere, F-76130 Mont Saint Aignan, France* To whom correspondence should be addressed. Fax: (33) 2 35 52 29 62. E-mail: [email protected]†Tianjin University.‡Université et INSA de Rouen.Cite this: Chem. Rev. 2008, 108, 9, PR1–PR43Publication Date (Web):September 10, 2008Publication History Received11 March 2008Published online10 September 2008Published inissue 10 September 2008https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/cr800221vhttps://doi.org/10.1021/cr800221vreview-articleACS PublicationsCopyright © 2008 American Chemical SocietyRequest reuse permissionsArticle Views13320Altmetric-Citations823LEARN ABOUT THESE METRICSArticle Views are the COUNTER-compliant sum of full text article downloads since November 2008 (both PDF and HTML) across all institutions and individuals. These metrics are regularly updated to reflect usage leading up to the last few days.Citations are the number of other articles citing this article, calculated by Crossref and updated daily. Find more information about Crossref citation counts.The Altmetric Attention Score is a quantitative measure of the attention that a research article has received online. Clicking on the donut icon will load a page at altmetric.com with additional details about the score and the social media presence for the given article. Find more information on the Altmetric Attention Score and how the score is calculated. Share Add toView InAdd Full Text with ReferenceAdd Description ExportRISCitationCitation and abstractCitation and referencesMore Options Share onFacebookTwitterWechatLinked InRedditEmail Other access optionsGet e-Alertsclose SUBJECTS:Halogenation,Organic compounds,Reagents,Stereoselectivity,Trifluoromethylation Get e-Alerts

Identification of an anti-inflammatory protein from <i>Faecalibacterium prausnitzii</i> , a commensal bacterium deficient in Crohn’s disease
Elodie Quévrain, Marie-Anne Maubert, Christophe Michon, Florian Chain +4 more
2015· Gut821doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2014-307649

BACKGROUND: Crohn's disease (CD)-associated dysbiosis is characterised by a loss of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, whose culture supernatant exerts an anti-inflammatory effect both in vitro and in vivo. However, the chemical nature of the anti-inflammatory compounds has not yet been determined. METHODS: Peptidomic analysis using mass spectrometry was applied to F. prausnitzii supernatant. Anti-inflammatory effects of identified peptides were tested in vitro directly on intestinal epithelial cell lines and on cell lines transfected with a plasmid construction coding for the candidate protein encompassing these peptides. In vivo, the cDNA of the candidate protein was delivered to the gut by recombinant lactic acid bacteria to prevent dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (DNBS)-colitis in mice. RESULTS: The seven peptides, identified in the F. prausnitzii culture supernatants, derived from a single microbial anti-inflammatory molecule (MAM), a protein of 15 kDa, and comprising 53% of non-polar residues. This last feature prevented the direct characterisation of the putative anti-inflammatory activity of MAM-derived peptides. Transfection of MAM cDNA in epithelial cells led to a significant decrease in the activation of the nuclear factor (NF)-κB pathway with a dose-dependent effect. Finally, the use of a food-grade bacterium, Lactococcus lactis, delivering a plasmid encoding MAM was able to alleviate DNBS-induced colitis in mice. CONCLUSIONS: A 15 kDa protein with anti-inflammatory properties is produced by F. prausnitzii, a commensal bacterium involved in CD pathogenesis. This protein is able to inhibit the NF-κB pathway in intestinal epithelial cells and to prevent colitis in an animal model.

Polyphenols: food sources, properties and applications – a review
Hasna El Gharras
2009· International Journal of Food Science & Technology548doi:10.1111/j.1365-2621.2009.02077.x

Summary There is currently much interest in phytochemicals as bioactive compounds of food. The roles of fruit, vegetables and red wine in disease prevention have been attributed, in part, to the antioxidant properties of their constituent polyphenols (vitamins E and C, and the carotenoids). Recent studies have shown that many dietary polyphenolic constituents derived from plants are more effective antioxidants in vitro than vitamins E or C, and thus might contribute significantly to the protective effects in vivo . Polyphenols are abundant micronutrients in our diet, and evidence for their role in the prevention of degenerative diseases is emerging. Dietary polyphenols show a great diversity of structures, ranging from rather simple molecules (monomers and oligomers) to polymers. Higher‐molecular‐weight structures (with molecular weights of ∼500) are usually designated as tannins, which refers to their ability to interact with proteins. Among them, condensed tannins (proanthocyanidins) are particularly important because of their wide distribution in plants and their contributions to major food qualities. This paper focuses on polyphenols; we illustrate their sources from food, properties and their beneficial uses.

Crystal structures of human cholinesterases in complex with huprine W and tacrine: elements of specificity for anti-Alzheimer's drugs targeting acetyl- and butyryl-cholinesterase
Florian Nachon, E. Carletti, Cyril Ronco, Marie Trovaslet +3 more
2013· Biochemical Journal459doi:10.1042/bj20130013

The multifunctional nature of Alzheimer's disease calls for MTDLs (multitarget-directed ligands) to act on different components of the pathology, like the cholinergic dysfunction and amyloid aggregation. Such MTDLs are usually on the basis of cholinesterase inhibitors (e.g. tacrine or huprine) coupled with another active molecule aimed at a different target. To aid in the design of these MTDLs, we report the crystal structures of hAChE (human acetylcholinesterase) in complex with FAS-2 (fasciculin 2) and a hydroxylated derivative of huprine (huprine W), and of hBChE (human butyrylcholinesterase) in complex with tacrine. Huprine W in hAChE and tacrine in hBChE reside in strikingly similar positions highlighting the conservation of key interactions, namely, π-π/cation-π interactions with Trp86 (Trp82), and hydrogen bonding with the main chain carbonyl of the catalytic histidine residue. Huprine W forms additional interactions with hAChE, which explains its superior affinity: the isoquinoline moiety is associated with a group of aromatic residues (Tyr337, Phe338 and Phe295 not present in hBChE) in addition to Trp86; the hydroxyl group is hydrogen bonded to both the catalytic serine residue and residues in the oxyanion hole; and the chlorine substituent is nested in a hydrophobic pocket interacting strongly with Trp439. There is no pocket in hBChE that is able to accommodate the chlorine substituent.

Tamed Arene and Heteroarene Trifluoromethylation
Tatiana Besset, Cédric Schneider, Dominique Cahard
2012· Angewandte Chemie International Edition420doi:10.1002/anie.201201012

A tri-ing transformation: The increasingly high demand for trifluoromethylated arenes and heteroarenes is a major challenge that has been addressed through the development of trifluoromethylation reactions. Several effective approaches for late-stage trifluoromethylation, as well as the use of practical and cheap trifluoromethylation reagents, are highlighted.

Reactivators of Acetylcholinesterase Inhibited by Organophosphorus Nerve Agents
Guillaume Mercey, Tristan Verdelet, Julien Renou, Maria Kliachyna +4 more
2012· Accounts of Chemical Research398doi:10.1021/ar2002864

Since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States, the specter of a chemical threat against civilian populations has renewed research interest in chemical warfare agents, their mechanisms of action, and treatments that reverse their effects. In this Account, we focus specifically on organophosphorus nerve agents (OPNAs). Although some OPNAs are used as pest control, the most toxic chemicals in this class are used as chemical warfare agents in armed conflicts. The acute toxicity of OPNAs results from the irreversible inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE, EC 3.1.1.7) via the formation of a covalent P-O bond at the serine hydroxyl group in the enzyme active site. AChE breaks down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine at neuronal synapses and neuromuscular junctions. The irreversible inhibition of AChE causes the neurotransmitter to accumulate in the synaptic cleft, leading to overstimulation of cholinergic receptors, seizures, respiratory arrest, and death. The current treatment for OPNA poisoning combines an antimuscarinic drug (e.g., atropine), an anticonvulsant drug (e.g., diazepam), and an AChE reactivator of the pyridinium aldoxime family (pralidoxime, trimedoxime, obidoxime, HI-6, HLö-7). Because of their high nucleophilicity, oximes can displace the phosphyl group from the catalytic serine, thus restoring the enzyme's catalytic activity. During 50 years of research in the reactivator field, researchers have synthesized and tested numerous structural modifications of monopyridinium oximes and bispyridinium oximes. In the past decade, medicinal chemists have focused their research on the more efficient bispyridinium reactivators, but all known reactivators have several drawbacks. First, due to their permanent positive charge, they do not cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) efficiently and do not readily reactivate AChE in the central nervous system. Second, no single oxime is efficient against a wide variety of OPNAs. Third, oximes cannot reactivate "aged" AChE. This Account summarizes recent strategies for the development of AChE reactivators capable of crossing the BBB. The use of nanoparticulate transport and inhibition of P-glycoprotein efflux pumps improves BBB transport of these AChE reactivators. Chemical modifications that increased the lipophilicity of the pyridinium aldoximes, the addition of a fluorine atom and the replacement of a pyridyl ring with a dihydropyridyl moiety, enhances BBB permeability. The glycosylation of pyridine aldoximes facilitates increased BBB penetration via the GLUT-1 transport system. The development of novel uncharged reactivators that can move efficiently across the BBB represents one of the most promising of these new strategies.

Shelf-stable electrophilic trifluoromethylating reagents: A brief historical perspective
Norio Shibata, Andrej V. Matsnev, Dominique Cahard
2010· Beilstein Journal of Organic Chemistry264doi:10.3762/bjoc.6.65

Since the discovery by Yagupolskii and co-workers that S-trifluoromethyl diarylsulfonium salts are effective for the trifluoromethylation of thiophenolates, the design and synthesis of electrophilic trifluoromethylating reagents have been extensively researched in both academia and industry, due to the significant unique features that trifluoromethylated compounds have in pharmaceuticals, agricultural chemicals, and functional materials. Several effective reagents have been developed by the groups of Yagupolskii, Umemoto, Shreeve, Adachi, Magnier, Togni and Shibata. Due to the high stability and reactivity of these reagents, a series of Umemoto reagents, Togni reagent and Shibata reagent are now commercially available. In this review, we wish to briefly provide a historical perspective of the development of so-called "shelf-stable electrophilic trifluoromethylating reagents", although this field is in constant development.

Recent Progress in Direct Introduction of Fluorinated Groups on Alkenes and Alkynes by means of CH Bond Functionalization
Tatiana Besset, Thomas Poisson, Xavier Pannecoucke
2014· Chemistry - A European Journal261doi:10.1002/chem.201404537

The direct introduction of fluorine and fluorinated building blocks has recently attracted a lot of attention and particularly the direct functionalization of alkenes and alkynes. This review will highlight the major progress recently made in that field, with a focus on photocatalyzed transformations, base-promoted processes, and transition metal-catalyzed functionalization of alkenes and alkynes. Special attention will be paid to explanations of the reaction mechanisms.

Lutein transport by Caco-2 TC-7 cells occurs partly by a facilitated process involving the scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI)
Emmanuelle Reboul, L. Abou, Céline Mikail, Odette Ghiringhelli +4 more
2005· Biochemical Journal261doi:10.1042/bj20040554

The carotenoid lutein is thought to play a role in the human eye and to protect against age-related macular degeneration. Lutein transport in the human intestine has not been characterized. We examined lutein transport processes using Caco-2 TC-7 monolayers as a model for human intestinal epithelium. Purified lutein was mixed with phospholipids, lysophospholipids, cholesterol, mono-olein, oleic acid and taurocholate to obtain lutein-rich mixed micelles that mimicked those found under physiological conditions. The micelles were added to the apical side of Caco-2 TC-7 cell monolayers for 30 min or 3 h at 37 degrees C. Absorbed lutein, i.e. the sum of lutein recovered in the scraped cells and in the basolateral chamber, was quantified by HPLC. Transport rate was measured (i) as a function of time (from 15 to 60 min), (ii) as a function of micellar lutein concentration (from 1.5 to 15 microM), (iii) at 4 degrees C, (iv) in the basolateral to apical direction, (v) after trypsin pretreatment, (vi) in the presence of beta-carotene and/or lycopene, (vii) in the presence of increasing concentrations of antibody against SR-BI (scavenger receptor class B type 1) and (viii) in the presence of increasing concentrations of a chemical inhibitor of the selective transfer of lipids mediated by SR-BI, i.e. BLT1 (blocks lipid transport 1). The rate of transport of lutein as a function of time and as a function of concentration was saturable. It was significantly lower at 4 degrees C than at 37 degrees C (approx. 50%), in the basal to apical direction than in the opposite direction (approx. 85%), and after trypsin pretreatment (up to 45%). Co-incubation with beta-carotene, but not lycopene, decreased the lutein absorption rate (approx. 20%) significantly. Anti-SR-BI antibody and BLT1 significantly impaired the absorption rate (approx. 30% and 57% respectively). Overall, these results indicate that lutein absorption is, at least partly, protein-mediated and that some lutein is taken up through SR-BI.

Covalent Modification of Biomolecules through Maleimide-Based Labeling Strategies
Kévin Renault, Jean Wilfried Fredy, Pierre‐Yves Renard, Cyrille Sabot
2018· Bioconjugate Chemistry238doi:10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.8b00252

Since their first use in bioconjugation more than 50 years ago, maleimides have become privileged chemical partners for the site-selective modification of proteins via thio-Michael addition of biothiols and, to a lesser extent, via Diels-Alder (DA) reactions with biocompatible dienes. Prominent examples include immunotoxins and marketed maleimide-based antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) such as Adcetris, which are used in cancer therapies. Among the key factors in the success of these groups is the availability of several maleimides that can be N-functionalized by fluorophores, affinity tags, spin labels, and pharmacophores, as well as their unique reactivities in terms of selectivity and kinetics. However, maleimide conjugate reactions have long been considered irreversible, and only recently have systematic studies regarding their reversibility and stability toward hydrolysis been reported. This review provides an overview of the diverse applications for maleimides in bioconjugation, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses, which are being overcome by recent strategies. Finally, the fluorescence quenching ability of maleimides was leveraged for the preparation of fluorogenic probes, which are mainly used for the specific detection of thiol analytes. A summary of the reported structures, their photophysical features, and their relative efficiencies is discussed in the last part of the review.

Fluorine &amp; chirality: how to create a nonracemic stereogenic carbon–fluorine centre?
Dominique Cahard, Xiu‐Hua Xu, Samuel Couve‐Bonnaire, Xavier Pannecoucke
2009· Chemical Society Reviews238doi:10.1039/b909566g

Enantiopure organofluorine compounds are at the forefront of innovation in the field of fluorine chemistry. The significant progress in modern fluoroorganic chemistry parallels the tremendous achievements in organocatalysis and organometallic catalysis that have permitted the asymmetric synthesis of chiral chemicals featuring a fluorinated stereogenic carbon centre. This tutorial review provides an overview of the current state of the art in asymmetric construction of stereogenic carbon-fluorine centres, not only by direct fluorination, but also by asymmetric reaction of fluorinated substrates.

Multidrug resistance protein 2 (MRP2) transports HIV protease inhibitors, and transport can be enhanced by other drugs
Maarten T. Huisman, Johan W. Smit, Kristel M. L. Crommentuyn, Noam Zelcer +3 more
2002· AIDS223doi:10.1097/00002030-200211220-00009

BACKGROUND: Various drug transporters of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) family restrict the oral bioavailability and cellular, brain, testis, cerebrospinal fluid and fetal penetration of substrate drugs. MDRI P-glycoprotein (P-gp) has been demonstrated to transport most HIV protease inhibitors (HPI) and to reduce their oral bioavailability and lymphocyte, brain, testis and fetal penetration, possibly resulting in major limiting effects on the therapeutic efficacy of these drugs. OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether the ABC transporters MRP1, MRP2, MRP3, MRP5 and breast cancer resistance protein 1 (Bcrp1) are efficient transporters of the HPI saquinavir, ritonavir and indinavir. METHODS: Polarized epithelial non-human (canine) cell lines transduced with human or murine complementary DNA (cDNA) for each of the transporters were used to study transepithelial transport of the HPI. RESULTS: MRP2 efficiently transported saquinavir, ritonavir and indinavir and this transport could be enhanced by probenecid. Sulfinpyrazone was also able to enhance MRP2-mediated saquinavir transport. In contrast, MRP1, MRP3, MRP5, or Bcrp1 did not efficiently transport the HPI tested. CONCLUSIONS: Human MRP2 actively transports several HPI and could, based on its known and assumed tissue distribution, therefore reduce HPI oral bioavailability. It may also limit brain and fetal penetration of these drugs and increase their hepatobiliary, intestinal and renal clearance. MRP2 function and enhancement of its activity could adversely affect the therapeutic efficacy, including the pharmacological sanctuary penetration, of HPI. In vivo inhibition of MRP2 function might, therefore, improve HIV/AIDS therapy.

The influence of fluorine in asymmetric catalysis
Dominique Cahard, Vincent Bizet
2013· Chemical Society Reviews216doi:10.1039/c3cs60193e

All domains of chemistry are increasingly impacted by organofluorine molecules, often favorably. In asymmetric synthesis of fluorinated compounds, significant achievements are the result of extensive research efforts toward appropriate experimental conditions rather than of the rationalization of fluorine effects. Most of the time, the influence of fluorine is inspected retrospectively. When elaborating a synthetic plan, the question should not be only when and how to introduce fluorine but also how to use the effects of fluorine for a desirable result. The subtle effects of fluorine atom(s) on the course of asymmetric reactions are outlined in this tutorial review. We present some selected examples of asymmetric reactions that involve fluorinated components either as reactants, catalysts, solvents or additives, and a comparative study of the stereochemical outcomes with reactions carried out in the presence of non-fluorinated analogues.

Synthesis of Imidazo[1,2-<i>a</i>]pyridines as Antiviral Agents
Alain Gueiffier, Sylvie Mavel, Mohammed Lhassani, Ahmed Elhakmaoui +4 more
1998· Journal of Medicinal Chemistry216doi:10.1021/jm981051y

The synthesis of original imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines bearing a thioether side chain at the 3 position and their antiviral activity are reported. From the synthesized compounds, 4, 15, and 21 were highly active against human cytomegalovirus with a therapeutic index superior to 150. These compounds also showed pronounced activity against varicella-zoster virus. Their structure-activity relationship is discussed.

Chiral dipeptide mimics possessing a fluoroolefin moiety: a relevant tool for conformational and medicinal studies
Samuel Couve‐Bonnaire, Dominique Cahard, Xavier Pannecoucke
2007· Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry215doi:10.1039/b701559c

The replacement of the amide bond in a peptide backbone is a promising strategy in peptidomimetic drug research. Over the various amide bond surrogates, the fluoroolefin moiety has been successfully developed as an effective mimic. Today, fluorine-containing compounds account for a large proportion of new active molecules in life sciences. The synthesis of fluoroolefin peptide mimics is not a trivial task and innovative approaches often need to be addressed, in particular for the stereocontrol of the double bond configuration and the chiral centres adjacent to the fluoroalkene. These fluorinated peptidomimetics have been synthesised and evaluated as metabolically stable and/or conformationally constrained analogs of enzyme inhibitors, and as tools for probing the function, structure, and binding process of receptors.

Omics-Based Strategies in Precision Medicine: Toward a Paradigm Shift in Inborn Errors of Metabolism Investigations
Abdellah Tebani, Carlos Afonso, Stéphane Marret, Soumeya Bekri
2016· International Journal of Molecular Sciences208doi:10.3390/ijms17091555

The rise of technologies that simultaneously measure thousands of data points represents the heart of systems biology. These technologies have had a huge impact on the discovery of next-generation diagnostics, biomarkers, and drugs in the precision medicine era. Systems biology aims to achieve systemic exploration of complex interactions in biological systems. Driven by high-throughput omics technologies and the computational surge, it enables multi-scale and insightful overviews of cells, organisms, and populations. Precision medicine capitalizes on these conceptual and technological advancements and stands on two main pillars: data generation and data modeling. High-throughput omics technologies allow the retrieval of comprehensive and holistic biological information, whereas computational capabilities enable high-dimensional data modeling and, therefore, accessible and user-friendly visualization. Furthermore, bioinformatics has enabled comprehensive multi-omics and clinical data integration for insightful interpretation. Despite their promise, the translation of these technologies into clinically actionable tools has been slow. In this review, we present state-of-the-art multi-omics data analysis strategies in a clinical context. The challenges of omics-based biomarker translation are discussed. Perspectives regarding the use of multi-omics approaches for inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) are presented by introducing a new paradigm shift in addressing IEM investigations in the post-genomic era.

Stereoregular bioresorbable polyesters for orthopaedic surgery
Michel Vert, F. Chabot, Jean Leray, P. Christel
1981· Die Makromolekulare Chemie205doi:10.1002/macp.1981.020051981103

The feasability of using poly(α-hydroxy-acid)s (poly-(glycolic acid), poly(L-lactic acid), L and D-lactic acid stereocopolymers and copolymers of glycolic and L- and D-lactic acids) for processing bioresorbable bone plates, screws, nails etc..., is questioned in regard to the requirements for effective applications and to the data reported in the open literature. Experiments carried out on home-made samples confirm the biocompatibility of these polyesters and the fast resorption of the amorphous compounds. In contrast, our results concerning crystalline poly(L-lactic acid) disagree with those of the literature. The discrepancies might result from differences in the basic material, differences in crystallinity and/or degradation of macromolecules which has been shown to occur sometimes during the elaboration of ready-for-implantation samples. Indeed, quasi-biostable bone plates based on isotactic poly(L-lactic acid) have been obtained according to an elaboration process which preserves the integrity of the synthesized macromolecules. The effects of enantiomeric purity and of implantation time on the tensile strength are reported for a series of welldefined stereocopolymers. Current studies show that highly isotactic poly(lactic acid)s (L/L+D > 92%) are polymers of particular interest for effective applications in bone surgery, especially for the construction of completely resorbable composite devices whose reinforcement consists of poly(glycolic acid) fibers.

Recent advances in cooperative ion pairing in asymmetric organocatalysis
Jean‐François Brière, Sylvain Oudeyer, Vincent Dalla, Vincent Levacher
2011· Chemical Society Reviews190doi:10.1039/c1cs15200a

Over the last decade, with the surge in the development of organocatalysis, many processes involving chiral ion pairs have emerged as powerful tools in the design of new efficient organocatalysts. This tutorial review focuses on the recent evolutions of these organocatalytic systems in which both anionic and cationic parts are working in a cooperative fashion in order to develop unique catalytic processes which outperform the existing approaches. In this respect, chiral ion pairs opened new avenues in the design of bifunctional organocatalysts by means of combinatorial approaches.