31158-91-5

Sterically hindered esters of carboxylic acids, which are considered very resistant to saponification, were rapidly and efficiently saponified in a non-aqueous medium using NaOH in MeOH/CH2Cl2 (1:9) at room temperature. Furthermore, this reaction protocol was extended and successfully applied to the hydrolysis of tosylates and N-tosyl indoles.

Esterification of various carboxylic acids with phenol and alcohols has been achieved using acid activated Indian bentonite (AAIB) as catalyst. The catalyst is versatile, and the reaction is found to work well for primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols. The yields are very good under specific reaction conditions.

Cyclohexyl hexadecanoate, hexadecyl propionate, and N-(3-hydroxypropionyl)pentadecanamide, respectively ester, retroester, and retroamide derivatives of N-palmitoylethanolamine, represent the first selective inhibitors of "N-palmitoylethanolamine hydrolase" described so far. These compounds are devoid of affinity for CB1 and CB 2 receptors and characterized by high percentages of inhibition of N-palmitoylethanolamine-selective acid amidase (84.0, 70.5, and 76.7% inhibition at 100 μM, respectively) with much lower inhibitory effect on either fatty acid amide hydrolase or the uptake of anandamide.

A quick and mild, one-pot method of esterification of fatty acids with pripary, secondary and tertiary alcohols as well as with fatty alcohols, sterols and glycerol is proposed via the acyl bromides formed in situ.

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