Phase behavior of biodegradable amphiphilic poly(l,l-lactide)-b-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(l,l-lactide)

This study describes the miscibility phase behavior in two series of biodegradable triblock copolymers, poly(l-lactide)-block-poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(l-lactide) (PLLA-PEG-PLLA), prepared from two di-hydroxy-terminated PEG prepolymers (M_n = 4000 or 600 g mol⁻¹) with different lengths of poly(l-lactide) segments (polymerization degree, DP = 1.2-145.6). The prepared block copolymers presented wide range of molecular weights (800-25,000 g mol⁻¹) and compositions (16-80 wt.% of PEG). The copolymer multiphases coexistance and interaction were evaluated by DSC and TGA. The copolymers presented a dual stage thermal degradation and decreased thermal stability compared to PEG homopolymers. In addition, DSC analyses allowed the observation of multiphase separation; the melting temperature, T_m, of PLLA and PEG phases depended on the relative segment lengths and the only observed glass transition temperature (T_g) in copolymers indicated miscibility in the amorphous phase.     

Inclusion compounds of l,d-dipeptide with small sulfoxides: flexible sheet structure of (S)-phenylglycyl-(R)-phenylglycine

A heterochiral l,d-dipeptide, (S)-phenylglycyl-(R)-phenylglycine (SR-1), formed inclusion compounds with some small dialkyl sulfoxides. By their single-crystal X-ray analyses, we observed monolayer structures, where SR-1 molecules are arranged in parallel to construct a wavy sheet. The sulfoxides were accommodated in a channel cavity between the monolayers of SR-1 by hydrogen bonding with ⁺NH₃ of SR-1. Notably, the sheet of SR-1 is so flexible to change its wavy degree in response to the volume of the included sulfoxides. Furthermore, we could analyze the structure of crystalline SR-1 without any sulfoxide, which has a bilayer structure.     

Synthesis of d-gluco-, l-ido-, d-galacto-, and l-altro-configured glycaro-1,5-lactams from tartaric acid

The d-gluco-, l-ido-, d-galacto-, and l-altro-configured glycaro-1,5-lactams 1-4 were prepared from the known tartaric anhydride 5 via the aldehyde 6. These lactams are known (1) or potential (2-4) inhibitors of β-d-glucuronidases and α-l-iduronidases. Olefination of 6 to the (E)- and (Z)-alkenes 7 or 8, followed by reagent or substrate controlled dihydroxylation, lactonization, azidation, reduction, and deprotection led in 10 steps and in overall yields of 11-20% to the title lactams.     

Polyhydroxylated pyrrolidines. Part 4: Synthesis from d-fructose of protected 2,5-dideoxy-2,5-imino-d-galactitol derivatives

The readily available 3-O-benzoyl-4-O-benzyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-5-O-methanesulfonyl-β-d-fructopyranose (5) was straightforwardly transformed into its d-psico epimer (8), after O-debenzoylation followed by oxidation and reduction, which caused the inversion of the configuration at C(3). Compound 8 was treated with lithium azide yielding 5-azido-4-O-benzyl-5-deoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-l-tagatopyranose (9) that was transformed into the related 3,4-di-O-benzyl derivative 10. Cleavage of the acetonide in 10 to give 11, followed by regioselective 1-O-pivaloylation to 12 and subsequent catalytic hydrogenation gave (2R,3S,4R,5S)-3,4-dibenzyloxy-2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)-2′-O-pivaloylpyrrolidine (13). Stereochemistry of 13 could be determined after O-deacylation to the symmetric pyrrolidine 14. Total deprotection of 14 gave 2,5-imino-2,5-dideoxy-d-galactitol (15, DGADP).     

Synthesis of (+)-1-epi-castanospermine from l-sorbose

Diastereoselective synthesis of 1-epi-castanospermine (2) from l-sorbose is described. The successful approach involved the use of 8-azido-2,8-dideoxy-α-l-gulo-oct-4-ulo-4,7-furanosononitrile intermediate (17). This compound was easily made in five steps from 3-O-benzoyl-2-deoxy-4,5:6,8-di-O-isopropylidene-α-l-gulo-oct-4-ulo-4,7-furanosononitrile (7) previously synthesized from l-sorbose. Catalytic hydrogenation of the azido intermediate 17 with Pd-C afforded with total stereocontrol one of the two possible piperidine diastereomers. Acid-catalyzed internal reductive deamination of the nitrile derivative completed the total synthesis of (1R,6S,7R,8R,8aR)-1,6,7,8-tetrahydroxyindolizidine [(+)-1-epi-castanospermine, 2].     

Polyhydroxylated pyrrolidines: synthesis from d-fructose of new tri-orthogonally protected 2,5-dideoxy-2,5-iminohexitols

The readily available 3-O-benzyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-β-d-fructopyranose (2) was transformed into its 5-O- (3) and 4-O-benzoyl (4) derivative. Compound 4 was straightforwardly transformed into 5-azido-4-O-benzoyl-3-O-benzyl-5-deoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-β-d-fructopyranose (7) via the corresponding 5-deoxy-5-iodo-α-l-sorbopyranose derivative 6. Cleavage of the acetonide in 7 to give 8, followed by regioselective 1-O-silylation to 9 and subsequent catalytic hydrogenation gave a mixture of (2S,3R,4R,5R)- (10) and (2R,3R,4R,5R)-4-benzoyloxy-3-benzyloxy-2′-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine (12) that was resolved after chemoselective N-protection as their Cbz derivatives 11 and 1a, respectively. Stereochemistry of 11 and 1a could be determined after total deprotection of 11 to the well known DGDP (13). Compound 2 was similarly transformed into the tri-orthogonally protected DGDP derivative 18.     

Synthesis of 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-derivatives of d-allitol, l-allitol and d-talitol: a stereo selective approach for azasugars

A stereo selective approach for the azasugars 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-d-allitol, l-allitol, and 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-d-talitol is described for different olefin compounds I derived from (R)-2,3-O-isopropylidine glyceraldehyde, l-ascorbic acid, and d-isoascorbic acid by using vinyl Grignard addition, allylation, RCM, and dihydroxylation as the key steps.     

Stereo-controlled approach to pyrrolidine iminosugar C-glycosides and 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-l-allitol using a d-mannose-derived cyclic nitrone

Intramolecular N-alkylation of 2,3-O-isopropylidene-5-O-methanesulfonyl-6-O-t-butyldimethylsilyl-d-mannofuranose-oxime 7 afforded a five-membered cyclic nitrone 9, which on N-O bond reductive cleavage followed by deprotection of -OTBS and acetonide functionalities gave 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-l-allitol (DIA) 3. Addition of allylmagnesium chloride to nitrone 9 afforded α-allylated product 10a in high diastereoselectivity providing an easy entry to N-hydroxy-C1-α-allyl-substituted pyrrolidine iminosugar 4a after removal of protecting group, while N-O bond reductive cleavage in 10a afforded C1-α-allyl-pyrrolidine iminosugar 4b.     

Regioselective phosphorylation of vicinal 3,4-hydroxy myo-inositol derivative promoted practical synthesis of d-PtdIns(4,5)P2 and d-Ins(1,4,5)P3

The reactivity of 3 and 4-OH in 3,4-diol myo-inositol derivatives were observed through the phosphorylation, acylation and silylation. The results indicated that 3-OH is much more reactive than 4-OH, giving regiospecifically 3-mono-functionalized products. This investigation provided a concise methodology for the synthesis of natural d-form of PtdIns(4,5)P2 and d-Ins(1,4,5)P3 from l-1,2-O-cyclohexylidene-3,4-O-(tetraisopropyl disiloxane-1,3-diyl)-myo-inositol.     

A common approach to the total synthesis of l-arabino-, l-ribo-C18-phytosphingosines, ent-2-epi-jaspine B and 3-epi-jaspine B from d-mannose

A common strategy for the total syntheses of the protected l-arabino- and l-ribo-C₁₈-phytosphingosine (8 and 9, respectively), HCl salts of ent-2-epi-jaspine B (ent-6) and 3-epi-jaspine B (7) with efficient use of both flexible building blocks 26 and 27 was achieved. The key step of this approach was [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of allylic trichloroacetimidate 21 and thiocyanate 22, which were derived from the known 2,3:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-d-mannofuranose 18 as the source of chirality. The side chain functionality was installed utilizing a Wittig reaction.     

Large scale synthesis of the acetonides of l-glucuronolactone and of l-glucose: easy access to l-sugar chirons

1,2-O-Isopropylidene-α-l-glucurono-3,6-lactone may be synthesized on a 100-200 g scale from cheaply available d-glucoheptonolactone in an overall yield of 94% in four steps via l-glucuronolactone. Subsequent elaboration to l-glucose, diacetone-l-glucose (1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-l-glucofuranose), and monoacetone-l-glucose (1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-l-glucofuranose) allows easy access to a range of l-sugar chirons.     

Polyhydroxylated pyrrolidines, III. Synthesis of new protected 2,5-dideoxy-2,5-iminohexitols from d-fructose

The readily available 3-O-benzoyl-4-O-benzyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-β-d-fructopyranose (6) was straightforwardly transformed into 5-azido-3-O-benzoyl-4-O-benzyl-5-deoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-β-d-fructopyranose (8), after treatment under modified Garegg's conditions followed by reaction of the resulting 3-O-benzoyl-4-O-benzyl-5-deoxy-5-iodo-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-l-sorbopyranose (7) with lithium azide in DMF. O-debenzoylation at C(3) in 8, followed by oxidation and reduction caused the inversion of the configuration to afford the corresponding β-d-psicopyranose derivative 11 that was transformed into the related 3,4-di-O-benzyl derivative 12. Cleavage of the acetonide of 12 to give 13 followed by O-tert-butyldiphenylsilylation afforded a resolvable mixture of 14 and 15. Compound 14 was transformed into (2R,3R,4S,5R)- (17) and (2R,3R,4S,5S)-3,4-dibenzyloxy-2′,5′-di-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine (18) either by a tandem Staudinger/intramolecular aza-Wittig process and reduction of the resulting intermediate Δ²-pyrroline (16), or only into 18 by a high stereoselective catalytic hydrogenation. When 15 was subjected to the same protocol, (2S,3S,4R,5R)- (21) and (2R,3S,4R,5R)-3,4-dibenzyloxy-2′-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine (22) were obtained, respectively.     

N-Nosyl as a stereoselectivity-improving and easily removable group in the O-glycosylation of d-allal and d-galactal-derived allyl aziridines. Stereospecific synthesis of 4-amino-2,3-unsaturated-O-glycosides

The glycosylation of alcohols, phenol, and partially protected monosaccharides with the diastereoisomeric d-allal and d-galactal-derived N-nosyl aziridines 2α and 2β leads to the corresponding 4-N-(nosylamino)-2,3-unsaturated-α-O- (6α) and β-O-glycosides and disaccharides (6β), respectively, in a stereospecific substrate-dependent O-glycosylation process. The N-(nosylamino) group of 6α and 6β can easily be deprotected to give the corresponding 4-amino-2,3-unsaturated-O-glycosides 7α and 7β, with an increased value to our glycosylation protocol.     

Short asymmetric synthesis of (S,S)-PDP using l-prolinol derivative as economic starting material

(S,S)-PDP (5d) and its backbone (2S,2′S)-bipyrrolidine (1) have been extensively applied as the scaffold of various chiral ligands in catalytic asymmetric syntheses. In this study, new short asymmetric syntheses of these two important C₂-symmetrical nitrogen heterocycles have been accomplished employing economically available l-prolinol derivative 10 as the starting material. Excellent diastereoselectivity was achieved of the key Grignard addition to imine intermediate utilizing (S)-N-tert-butanesulfinamide as the chiral auxiliary.     

Experimental and theoretical studies on inversion dynamics of dichloro(l-difluoromethionine-N,S)platinum(II) and dichloro(l-trifluoromethionine-N,S)platinum(II) complexes

Fluorinated analogues of methionine such as l-S-(difluoromethyl)homocysteine (l-difluoromethionine; DFM) and l-S-(trifluoromethyl)homocysteine (l-trifluoromethionine; TFM) have been demonstrated to be interesting analogues for incorporation into peptides and proteins. The presence of the fluorine nucleus adjacent to the sulfur atom in the side chain not only serves to alter the nucleophilicity and electron density of the sulfur atom but it can function as an important NMR spectroscopic (¹⁹F) probe. Additional information on the properties of these fluorinated amino acid analogues was obtained by studying their interactions with dipotassium tetrachloroplatinate (K₂PtCl₄). The resulting complexes, dichloro(l-difluoromethionine-N,S)platinum(II) and dichloro(l-trifluoromethionine-N,S)platinum(II) were investigated with respect to their sulfur inversion rates utilizing dynamic NMR methods. Inversion barriers for the DFM- and TFM-platinum complexes were experimentally determined to be 16.4 ± 0.2 and 18 ± 1 kcal/mol, respectively. Density functional calculations at the B3LYP/SDD level were also performed to model the structures and energies of the ground and transition states for these complexes.     

Practical synthesis of d-[1-C]mannose, l-[1-C] and l-[6-C]fucose

The chemical synthesis of ¹³C-labeled mannose and fucose is important for the preparation of molecular probes used in the conformational study of the oligosaccharide portions of glycoproteins. A new method for the synthesis of the title [1-¹³C]-labeled compounds via the corresponding olefin compounds, which are in turn derived from d-mannitol or l-arabinose by efficient introduction of ¹³C, by the Wittig reaction using Ph₃P¹³CH₃I and n-BuLi, is described. The introduction of ¹³CH₃I to produce the [1-¹³C]- and [6-¹³C]-labeled compounds was accomplished in 62%, 56%, and 71% yields, respectively. All mannose and fucose protons, from H-1 to H-6, were observed by the HMQC-TOCSY technique using 1:1 mixtures of [1-¹³C]- and [6-¹³C]-labeled compounds.     

Intermolecular/interionic interactions in l-isoleucine-, l-proline-, and l-glutamine-aqueous electrolyte systems

Speed of sound and density values for ternary systems (amino acid + salt + water): l-isoleucine/l-proline/l-glutamine in aqueous solutions of 1.5 M KCl, 1 M KNO₃, and 0.5 M K₂SO₄ have been measured for several concentrations of amino acids at different temperatures (303.15, 308.15, 313.15, 318.15, and 323.15 K). Using speed of sound and density data, the thermodynamic parameters such as isentropic compressibility (κ_s), change in isentropic compressibility (Δκ_s) and relative change (Δκ_s/κ₀) in isentropic compressibility have been computed. The isentropic compressibility values decrease with increase in the amino acid concentration as well as with temperature. The decrease in κ_s values with increase in concentration of l-isoleucine/l-proline/l-glutamine in 1.5 M KCl, 1 M KNO₃, and 0.5 M K₂SO₄ has been ascribed to an increase in the number of incompressible zwitterions in solutions, and the formation of ‘zwitterions-ions’ and ‘zwitterions-water dipole’ entities in solutions. The decrease in κ_s values with increase in temperature has been attributed to the corresponding decrease of κ_relax (a relaxational part of compressibility), which is dominant over the corresponding increase of κ_∞ (an instantaneous part of compressibility). The trends of variation of Δκ_s and Δκ_s/κ₀ with variations in solute concentration and temperature have also been discussed in terms of solute-solute and solute-solvent intermolecular/interionic interactions operative in the systems.     

New pyrano[3,4-b]indoles from 2-hydroxymethylindole and l-dehydroascorbic acid

2-Hydroxymethylindole reacts with l-dehydroascorbic acid under mild conditions to give (3R,3aR,10cS)-3-[(1S)-1,2-dihydroxyethyl]-3a,10c-dihydroxy-3a,5,6,10c-tetrahydrofuro[3′,4′:5,6]pyrano[3,4-b]indol-1(3H)-one. Its tosyl derivative undergoes cyclization to form a pentacyclic ketal derivative.     

Anion recognition by d-ribose-based receptors

Anion recognition properties of d-ribose-based receptors α- and β-1 were measured by ¹H NMR in CDCl₃ and MeCN-d₃. Receptor β-1 showed effective binding with anions by cooperative hydrogen bonds of cis-diol. The anomeric isomer α-1 is a less effective anion receptor which has similar cis-diol as a recognition site, indicating that the stereo configuration of the anomeric position is of significant influence on the anion recognition ability.     

Intercalating nucleic acids: The inversion of the stereocenter in 1-O-(pyren-1-ylmethyl)glycerol from R to S. Thermal stability towards ssDNA, ssRNA and its own type of oligodeoxynucleotides

The synthesis and insertions of (S)-1-O-(pyren-1-ylmethyl)glycerol into intercalating nucleic acids is described. Insertions of this S-isomer as a bulge lead to reduced binding affinity towards complementary ssDNA compared to intercalating nucleic acids possessing (R)-1-O-(pyren-1-ylmethyl)glycerol in the same positions. Insertions of both (R) or (S) 1-O-(pyren-1-ylmethyl)glycerols as bulges into two complementary strands decreased the stability of the complex compared to dsDNA possessing the pyrene pseudo-nucleotide in one of the strands.