This paper describes a mild phenyliodine diacetate mediated method for selective chlorination, bromination, and iodination of indole C–H bonds using sodium halide as a source for analogous halogenations.

A series of new non-phosphine 1-(2-picolyl)-3-benzoylsubstituted-2-benzyl-2-thiopseudourea ligands 2a–2f have been synthesized in two steps from commercially available benzoyl chlorides. Treatment of these ligands with Pd(OAc)₂ in a 1 : 1 molar ratio in dichloromethane (DCM) at room temperature provided convenient access to the corresponding N,N,O-tridentate palladium(II) complexes [Pd(OAc){ArCONHC(N(CH₂Py)}SCH₂C₆H₅] (Ar = C₆H₅ (3a); 4-F-C₆H₄ (3b); 4-Br-C₆H₄ (3c); 4-I-C₆H₄ (3d); 4-Me-C₆H₄ (3e); 3,4,5-(OMe)₃-C₆H₂ (3f)) in almost quantitative yields. The new ligands and their palladium complexes were characterized by NMR, IR, ESIMS, and HRMS analysis. The molecular structure of complex 3c has been determined by X-ray single-crystal diffraction. These Pd(II) complexes have been used as catalysts for the Suzuki–Miyaura, Sonogashira, Heck and Hiyama cross-coupling reactions.

Bacteria belonging to the family Brevibacterieae are ubiquitous Gram positive organisms that are responsible for the feet odour and cheese aroma. Brevibacterium mcbrellneri is a relatively new member belonging to Brevibacterieae. In the current manuscript we discuss isolation of biologically active metabolites from Brevibacterium mcbrellneri. Two aromatic esters were isolated from Brevibacterium mcbrellneri by “Bioassay guided fractionation strategy” and identified as di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and dibutyl phthalate by chemical characterization using biophysical techniques. The phthalate compounds show broad spectrum antibacterial activity and mosquito larvicidal activity. Mosquito larvicidal activity has been attributed to inhibition of acetylcholinesterase enzyme activity. These compounds were found to be cytotoxic in multiple cell lines causing cell cycle arrest in G1 phase.