Methods for preparing a variety of ladderane precursors, ladderane compounds and ladderane lipids are provided. Also provided are methods of preparing a liposome from the ladderane lipids disclosed herein, and compositions thereof. Aspects of the invention include encapsulated one or more cargo moieties in the liposome or compositions thereof and use of the subject liposome compositions as vehicles in drug delivery, imaging, diagnostics and other medical applications. Aspects of the methods disclosed herein include administering a liposomal composition comprising a pharmaceutical agent to a subject under conditions sufficient to deliver the composition to a site of interest in the subject, and release the pharmaceutical agent from the liposomal composition.

Methods for preparing a variety of ladderane precursors, ladderane compounds and ladderane lipids are provided. Also provided are methods of preparing a liposome from the ladderane lipids disclosed herein, and compositions thereof. Aspects of the invention include encapsulated one or more cargo moieties in the liposome or compositions thereof and use of the subject liposome compositions as vehicles in drug delivery, imaging, diagnostics and other medical applications. Aspects of the methods disclosed herein include administering a liposomal composition comprising a pharmaceutical agent to a subject under conditions sufficient to deliver the composition to a site of interest in the subject, and release the pharmaceutical agent from the liposomal composition.

Methods for preparing a variety of ladderane precursors, ladderane compounds and ladderane lipids are provided. Also provided are methods of preparing a liposome from the ladderane lipids disclosed herein, and compositions thereof. Aspects of the invention include encapsulated one or more cargo moieties in the liposome or compositions thereof and use of the subject liposome compositions as vehicles in drug delivery, imaging, diagnostics and other medical applications. Aspects of the methods disclosed herein include administering a liposomal composition comprising a pharmaceutical agent to a subject under conditions sufficient to deliver the composition to a site of interest in the subject, and release the pharmaceutical agent from the liposomal composition.

Disclosed herein are compounds of the general Formula (I), and methods of synthesizing substituted bicyclo[1.1.1 jpentanes. The synthetic methods described herein use a [1.1.1]propellane, a Group VIII transition metal compound, a hydride source and a reagent that can contribute a substituent to form a substituted bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane, such as a compound of the general Formula (I).

Disclosed herein are compounds of the general Formula (I), and methods of synthesizing substituted bicyclo[1.1.1 jpentanes. The synthetic methods described herein use a [1.1.1]propellane, a Group VIII transition metal compound, a hydride source and a reagent that can contribute a substituent to form a substituted bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane, such as a compound of the general Formula (I).

Disclosed is a cyclopropanation process comprising the step of reacting an alkene compound having at least one carbon-carbon double bond with at least one dihaloalkane. The reaction is carried out in the presence of (i) particulate metal Zn, (ii) catalytically effective amount of particulate metal Cu or a salt thereof, (iii) at least one haloalkylsilane, and (iv) at least one solvent.

Disclosed is a cyclopropanation process comprising the step of reacting an alkene compound having at least one carbon-carbon double bond with at least one dihaloalkane. The reaction is carried out in the presence of (i) particulate metal Zn, (ii) catalytically effective amount of particulate metal Cu or a salt thereof, (iii) at least one haloalkylsilane, and (iv) at least one solvent.

The invention comprises novel chiral metal complex compounds of the formula

##STR00001##

wherein M, PR.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are outlined in the description, its stereoisomers, in the form as a neutral complex or a complex cation with a suitable counter ion. The chiral metal complex compounds can be used in asymmetric reactions, particularly in asymmetric reductions of ketones, imines or oximes.

The invention comprises novel chiral metal complex compounds of the formula

##STR00001##

wherein M, PR.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are outlined in the description, its stereoisomers, in the form as a neutral complex or a complex cation with a suitable counter ion. The chiral metal complex compounds can be used in asymmetric reactions, particularly in asymmetric reductions of ketones, imines or oximes.

Provided are vitamin D.sub.3 derivatives of formula (I), pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and pharmaceutical or medical uses thereof for treating metabolic disease, a liver disease, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or cancer in a patient in need thereof.