Abstract: The invention provides synthetic methods for the preparation of cantharidin and analogs thereof. In one aspect, the invention provides an improved Diels-Alder cycloaddition to generate a key intermediate en route to cantharidin and analogs thereof. In certain embodiments, the new Diels-Alder reaction involves reacting Compound (2) in the presence of furan, and in the absence of acid or increased pressure, in an aprotic polar solvent with slight warming, to yield Compound (1) in favorable yield and exo-endo ratio. In another aspect, the invention also provides a new Diels-Alder reaction between compounds of Formula (III) and furan to yield compounds of Formula (IV), which can then be transformed into cantharidin or analogs thereof. In yet another aspect, the invention describes a new palladium-mediated carbonylation providing another key intermediate en route to cantharidin and analogs thereof. In addition to synthetic methods, present invention also provides compounds (i.e.

Abstract: A computer, connected to a communications bus, includes a display that selectively displays a user interface. A plurality of diagnostic applications installed on the computer are capable of receiving data from the communications bus via the connection. Instructions executable on the computer provide a list of the diagnostic applications in the user interface, accept input indicating one of the diagnostic applications to be launched, and launch the indicated diagnostic application. In one embodiment, the communications bus is in a vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a system for viewing measurements remotely, including a first processor that is connected to a wireless communications device; a sensor; and at least one measurement device comprising a second processor programmed to (1) receive an input from the sensor and (2) wirelessly communicate with the first processor. The first processor is programmed to retrieve measurements from the measurement device via the wireless communications device.

Abstract: A data link tester comprises a computer capable of a connection with a communications bus in a piece of equipment having at least one component in selective contact with the bus. The computer contains instructions for (1) building a roster comprising at least one identifier of the component and (2) then performing a diagnostic step comprising at least one of (i) analyzing communications received from the communications bus to determine the condition of communications with respect to the component, (ii) determining whether a message that contains the identifier has been received from the communications bus within a specified period of time, and (iii) diagnosing at least one fault condition in CAN communications in the communications bus by performing at least one CAN message check comprising determining whether a CAN message has been received from the communications bus and then performing at least one second diagnostic step. In some embodiments, the piece of equipment is a vehicle.