The present invention is directed to a method for continuous production of dihydroartemisinin and also artemisinin derivatives derived from dihydroartemisinin by using artemisinin or dihydroartemisinic acid (DHAA) as starting material as well as to a continuous flow reactor for producing dihydroartemisinin as well as the artemisinin derivatives. It was found that the reduction of artemisinin to dihydroartemisinin in a continuous process requires a special kind of reactor and a special combination of reagents comprising a hydride reducing agent, at least one activator such as an inorganic activator, at least one solid base, at least one aprotic solvent and at least one C.sub.1-C.sub.5 alcohol.

The present invention is directed to a method for continuous production of dihydroartemisinin and also artemisinin derivatives derived from dihydroartemisinin by using artemisinin or dihydroartemisinic acid (DHAA) as starting material as well as to a continuous flow reactor for producing dihydroartemisinin as well as the artemisinin derivatives. It was found that the reduction of artemisinin to dihydroartemisinin in a continuous process requires a special kind of reactor and a special combination of reagents comprising a hydride reducing agent, at least one activator such as an inorganic activator, at least one solid base, at least one aprotic solvent and at least one C.sub.1-C.sub.5 alcohol.

A series of fused pentacyclic imidazole derivatives, being potent modulators of human TNFa activity, are accordingly of benefit in the treatment and/or prevention of various human ailments, including autoimmune and inflammatory disorders; neurological and neurodegenerative disorders; pain and nociceptive disorders; cardiovascular disorders; metabolic disorders; ocular disorders; and oncological disorders. In particular, the present invention is concerned with 6,7-dihydro-7,14-methanobenzimidazo[1,2-b][2,5]benzodiazocin-5(14H)-one derivatives and analogs thereof.

The present invention relates to novel nargenicin related compounds which can inhibit DnaE and have antibacterial, particularly antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The present invention also relates to method for inhibiting growth of mycobacterial cells as well as a method of treating mycobacterial infections by Mycobacterium tuberculosis by administering an antimycobacterially effective amount of nargenicin or a nargenicin-related compound and/or their pharmaceutically acceptable salts.

The present invention relates to novel nargenicin related compounds which can inhibit DnaE and have antibacterial, particularly antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The present invention also relates to method for inhibiting growth of mycobacterial cells as well as a method of treating mycobacterial infections by Mycobacterium tuberculosis by administering an antimycobacterially effective amount of nargenicin or a nargenicin-related compound and/or their pharmaceutically acceptable salts.

The invention provides compounds, methods, pharmaceutical compositions, and kits for the treatment of proliferative disorders such as cancer. In one aspect, the methods comprise compounds that inhibit the activity of protein kinases, such as cell division cycle (Cdc) kinase. In another aspect, the methods comprise compounds that inhibit Cdc7 and/or Dbf4 activity. In another aspect, the methods comprise compounds that exhibit anti-proliferative properties useful in treating diseases such as cancer. Compounds useful for any of the methods include compounds of the Formula (A) or (B): ##STR00001##
or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Exemplary compounds of Formula (A) or (B) include granaticin A, granaticin B, dihydrogranaticin A, dihydrogranaticin B, medermycin, and actinorhodin.

The invention provides compounds, methods, pharmaceutical compositions, and kits for the treatment of proliferative disorders such as cancer. In one aspect, the methods comprise compounds that inhibit the activity of protein kinases, such as cell division cycle (Cdc) kinase. In another aspect, the methods comprise compounds that inhibit Cdc7 and/or Dbf4 activity. In another aspect, the methods comprise compounds that exhibit anti-proliferative properties useful in treating diseases such as cancer. Compounds useful for any of the methods include compounds of the Formula (A) or (B): ##STR00001##
or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Exemplary compounds of Formula (A) or (B) include granaticin A, granaticin B, dihydrogranaticin A, dihydrogranaticin B, medermycin, and actinorhodin.

To provide an alcohol compound containing fewer impurities at a high yield by conducting the following steps: a hydroboration process in which a reaction mixture is obtained by reacting in a solvent a compound represented by formula (C) and a boron agent selected from a group of diborane and borane complexes; and an oxidation process in which the pH of the reaction mixture is set at 0.5 to 4, which is conducted after treating the reaction mixture with hydrogen peroxide. In the formula, A.sub.1 to A.sub.6 are each independently a hydrogen atom, methyl group or ethyl group, and X is an oxygen atom, sulfur atom, methylene group or ethylene group. ##STR00001##

To provide an alcohol compound containing fewer impurities at a high yield by conducting the following steps: a hydroboration process in which a reaction mixture is obtained by reacting in a solvent a compound represented by formula (C) and a boron agent selected from a group of diborane and borane complexes; and an oxidation process in which the pH of the reaction mixture is set at 0.5 to 4, which is conducted after treating the reaction mixture with hydrogen peroxide. In the formula, A.sub.1 to A.sub.6 are each independently a hydrogen atom, methyl group or ethyl group, and X is an oxygen atom, sulfur atom, methylene group or ethylene group. ##STR00001##

Compounds of formula III:

##STR00001##

and salts thereof are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for preparing compounds of formula III, intermediates useful for preparing compounds of formula III and methods for preparing compounds and materials from compounds of formula III.