The green premium in the European stock market

This paper investigates the concept of greenium, the premium investors are willing to pay for sustainable assets relative to conventional investments, with a focus on the European stock market. As sustainable finance gains prominence, understanding greenium's implications is crucial for both investors and policymakers. The study addresses the challenges of defining and estimating greenium, including varying perceptions of climate risk and the lack of standardized criteria for green assets. Through comprehensive empirical analysis, we evaluate the presence of greenium and its effects on investment strategies, highlighting how sustainability considerations shape asset valuation and investor behavior. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the interplay between sustainability and financial performance in today's investment landscape

Strade e memoria pubblica. La toponomastica a Reggio Emilia tra public history e memory studies

Nell’articolo sono riportati i principali risultati emersi da una ricerca collettiva compiuta sulla storia della toponomastica a Reggio Emilia. Da un lato, viene evidenziata l’importanza della toponomastica per le pratiche della public history, la comunicazione storica e la valorizzazione delle fonti documentarie; dall’altro lato, sono riportati i passaggi fondamentali che hanno determinato il processo di formazione della toponomastica a Reggio Emilia tra Otto e Novecento

Ring opening metathesis polymerisation of a new bio-derived monomer from itaconic anhydride and furfuryl alcohol

A new oxa-norbornene bio-based lactone obtained from the 100% atom economic reaction of furfuryl alcohol and itaconic anhydride via a tandem Diels-Alder addition and lactonisation is presented. Esterification of the resulting acid gives a monomer for the production of a bio-based polymer with low polydispersity and well controlled molecular weight via ring-opening metathesis polymerisation (ROMP)

A biocatalytic approach to the synthesis of pharmacologically active compounds

Several pharmacologically active compounds present in their structure different functional groups and stereocenters so, for their synthesis, chemo-, regio-, stereoselective transformations are required. This selectivity can be achieved using biocatalysts (enzymes and microorganisms). The aim of our work is the preparation of some pharmacologically active compounds using biocatalytic methodologies which can lead to important improvements compared to traditional approaches, such as better yields and shorter synthetic pathways. Moreover the use of biocatalysts in synthesis is a green approach. For example, in our laboratory through a regioselective transformation catalysed by an enzyme, Alcalase CLEA, we have achieved the synthesis of capecitabine (Xeloda), an antitumor with a nucleosidic scaffold. After the investigation of the activity of different enzymes and microorganisms we have obtained both the enantiomerically pure synthons for the preparation of (S)-pramipexole, a synthetic dopaminergic agonist utilized as anti-Parkinson agent, and (R)-pramipexole, which has been studied for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Through a similar biocatalytic approach is under development the synthesis of brivaracetam, a novel anticonvulsant drug. The crucial step of the synthesis of this molecule is the obtainment of the stereocenter bearing the propyl moiety with the proper configuration. This aim was achieved by means of a lipase-catalysed resolution of the suitable precursor of the finale molecule

Crystallographic and spectroscopic study on a known orally active progestin

6,17a-dimethyl-4,6-pregnadiene-3,20-dione (medrogestone, 2) is for a long time known steroid endowed with progestational activity. In order to study its crystallographic and NMR spectroscopic properties with the aim to fill the literature gap, we prepared medrogestone following a traditional procedure. A careful NMR study allowed the complete assignement of the 1H and 13C NMR signals not only of medrogestone but also of its synthetic intermediates. The structural and stereochemical characterizations of medrogestone togheter with its precursor 17a-methyl-3-ethoxy-pregna-3,5- dien-20-one were described by means of X-ray analysis, allowing a deepened conformational investigation

Crystallographic and NMR Investigation of Ergometrine and Methylergometrine, Two Alkaloids from Claviceps purpurea

Ergometrine and methylergometrine are two alkaloids that are used as maleate salts for the prevention and control of postpartum hemorrhage. Although the two molecules have been known for a long time, few and discordant crystallographic and NMR spectroscopic data are available in the literature. With the aim of providing more conclusive data, we performed a careful NMR study for the complete assignment of the 1H, 13C, and 15N NMR signals of ergometrine, methylergometrine, and their maleate salts. This information allowed for a better definition of their conformational equilibria. In addition, the stereochemistry and the intermolecular interactions in the solid state of the two maleate salts were deeply investigated by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction, showing the capability of these derivatives to act as both hydrogen-bond donors and acceptors, and evidencing a correlation between the number of intermolecular interactions and their different solubility

Impiego di biocatalizzatori per trasformazioni selettive nella sintesi di molecole farmacologicamente attive

Nel corso della sintesi di composti farmacologicamente attivi che presentano strutture polifunzionali e contengono uno o più centri stereogenici sono richieste trasformazioni chemoselettive, regioselettive, stereoselettive realizzabili attraverso l’impiego di biocatalizzatori (enzimi purificati o microrganismi). Scopo del nostro lavoro è stato l’ottenimento di alcuni principi farmacologicamente attivi con metodi biocatalitici che avrebbero potuto apportare miglioramenti, rispetto alle preparazioni già note, in termini di rese e di semplificazione della via di sintesi. Con l’utilizzo della lipasi da Pseudomonas fluorescens sono stati ottenuti i sintoni enantiomericamente puri per l’ottenimento dell’(R) e (S)-argatroban, un antitrombotico sintetico. L’utilizzo del microorganismo Saccharomyces cerevisiae ha consentito la preparazione del sintone otticamente puro per ottenere sia l’(S)-pramipexolo (Mirapex), un ammino tetraidrobenzotiazolo di origine sintetica utilizzato nel trattamento del morbo di Parkinson, sia l’(R)-pramipexolo (Dexpramipexolo), attualmente in fase di studio per il trattamento della SLA (Sclerosi Laterale Amiotrofica). Attraverso una trasformazione regioselettiva, catalizzata dalla proteasi Alcalase CLEA, è stato possibile preparare la capecitabina (Xeloda), un antitumorale a struttura nucleosidica

Biocatalysts for the synthesis of pharmacologically active compounds

Many pharmaceutically active compounds contain a chiral core inside their structure. The required chemo-, regio-, and stereo-selectivity can be achieved using biocatalysts (enzymes or microorganisms), which transform a wide range of substrates under mild reaction conditions. Our research work focuses on the biocatalytic synthesis of key building blocks of active pharmaceutical ingredients. In this communication, two examples of this approach will be described: the synthesis of the enantiopure key intermediates of brivaracetam and pramipexole. I) Brivaracetam is a recently approved anticonvulsant drug. The crucial step in the synthetic pathway of this drug is the obtainment of the precursor (R)-4-propyldihydrofuran-2(3H)-one, bearing the propyl moiety essential for its pharmacological activity. We achieved this enantiomerically pure intermediate through a convenient biocatalytic approach. II) For the preparation of (S)-pramipexole, a dopaminergic agonist employed as anti-Parkinson agent, and (R)-pramipexole, a potential treatment for eosinophilic asthma and hypereosinophilic syndrome, we investigated the activity and selectivity of different microorganisms (mainly yeasts). This approach allowed us to obtain enantiomerically pure synthons, but now we improved our previous results using enzymes as biocatalysts, i.e. lipases in organic solvents

Elagolix analogues as potential new GnRH antagonists: design, synthesis and characterization

Elagolix is the first non-peptide orally active gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist approved for the treatment of sex-hormone dependent diseases such as endometriosis and uterine fibroids. Chemically it is an uracil-based derivative having a stereocenter with (R)-configuration and a second source of chirality, called atropisomerism, that arise from the interaction of the o-fluorine of the 5-aryl group with the methyl group at the 6-position of the uracil moiety and the electronegative oxygen atom of the carbonyl functionality, which causes a slow rotation about the C-C bond. Previous studies on two analogues of elagolix evidenced the importance of atropisomerism for this class of compounds showing a remarkable difference on the activity of the two isolated atropisomers. Since the increase in the steric hindrance or the modulation of electronic factors, which can affect the atropisomeric propensity of elagolix, have not been deeply evaluated yet, the aim of this research is the design, synthesis, characterization, and biological evaluation of new potential uracil-based GnRH antagonists to gain a deeper knowledge of the role of atropisomerism and to disclose new potential orally available GnRH antagonists. To reach this aim, the synthesis of elagolix was accomplished improving some steps of a literature procedure. Moreover, some elagolix analogues differently substituted at the 6- and/or 4-position of the uracil moiety were designed and synthetised with the support of molecular modelling techniques. Two of them present an interconversion time between the atropisomers higher than elagolix. The research work will proceed with the separation and analysis of the single atropisomers in order to understand if they are endowed with different chemical and biological properties

Vecuronium bromide and its advanced intermediates : a crystallographic and spectroscopic study

Vecuronium bromide (Piperidinium, 1-[(2β,3α,5α,16β,17β)-3,17-bis(acetyloxy)-2-(1-piperidinyl)androstan-16-yl]-1-methyl-, bromide; Norcuron®) has been extensively used in anesthesiology practice as neuromuscular blocking agent since its launch on the market in 1982. However, a detailed crystallographic and NMR analysis of its advanced synthetic intermediates is still lacking. Hence, with the aim of filling this literature gap, vecuronium bromide was prepared starting from the commercially available 3β-hydroxy-5α-androstan-17-one (epiandrosterone), implementing some modifications to a traditional synthetic procedure. A careful NMR study allowed the complete assignment of the 1H, 13C, and 15N NMR signals of vecuronium bromide and its synthetic intermediates. The structural and stereochemical characterization of 2β,16β-bispiperidino-5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol, the first advanced synthetic intermediate carrying all the stereocenters in the final configuration, was described by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction and Hirshfeld surface analysis, allowing a detailed conformational investigation