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Chromatographic separation of a crude extract obtained from the fungus Aspergillus sp., isolated from the Mediterranean sponge Tethya aurantium , yielded a new tryptophan derived alkaloid, 3-((1-hydroxy-3-(2-methylbut-3-en-2-yl)-2-oxoindolin-3-yl)methyl)-1-methyl-3,4-dihydrobenzo[ e ][1,4]diazepine-2,5-dione ( 1 ), and a new meroterpenoid, austalide R ( 2 ), together with three known compounds ( 3 – 5 ). The structures of the new compounds were unambiguously elucidated on the basis of extensive one and two-dimensional NMR ( 1 H, 13 C, COSY, HMBC, and ROESY) and mass spectral analysis. Interestingly, the compounds exhibited antibacterial activity when tested against a panel of marine bacteria, with 1 selectively inhibiting Vibrio species and 2 showing a broad spectrum of activity. In contrast, no significant activity was observed against terrestrial bacterial strains and the murine cancer cell line L5178Y.

For the first time, N-aryl azacycloalkanes (III) are prepared in a continuous-flow laboratory-scale microreactor.

An efficient procedure using microreactors for the oxidation of benzylic compounds is described. This new method is facile, economical, and environmentally friendly. By using microreactors, this oxidation can be accomplished with good yields within 10 s at room temperature.

A green way to synthesize allyl phenols has been developed. Quantitative yield of 2-allyl-4-methoxyphenol was obtained via a fast Claisen rearrangement in a microreactor system without solvent and work-up.