C-Glycoside Analogues of N4-(2-Acetamido-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-L-asparagine: Synthesis and conformational analysis of a cyclic C-glycopeptide

The synthesis of C-glycosidic analogues 15–22 of N⁴-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-D -glucopyranosyl)-L -asparagine (Asn(N⁴GlcNAc)) possessing a reversed amide bond as an isosteric replacement of the N-glycosidic linkage is presented. The peptide cyclo(-D -Pro-Phe-Ala-CGaa-Phe-Phe-) (CGaa = C-glycosylated amino acid; 24 ) was prepared to demonstrate that 3-[(3-acetamido-2,6-anhydro-4,5,7-tri-O-benzyl-3-deoxy-β-D -glycero-D -guloheptonoyl)amino]-2-[(9H-fluoren-9-yloxycarbonyl)amino]propanoic acid ( 22 ) can be used in solid-phase peptide synthesis. The conformation of 24 was determined by NMR and molecular-dynamics (MD) techniques. Evidence is provided that the CGaa side chain interacts with the peptide backbone. The different C-glycosylated amino acids 15–21 were prepared by coupling 3-acetamido-2,6-anhydro-4,5,7-tri-O-benzyl-3-deoxy-β-D -glycero-D -gulo-heptonic acid ( 4 ) with diamino-acid derivatives 8–14 in 83–96% yield. The synthesis of 4 was performed from 2-(acetamido-3,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-β-D -glucopyranosyl) tributylstannane ( 2 ) by treatment with BuLi and CO₂ in 83% yield. Similarly, propyl isocyanat yielded the glycoheptonamide 7 in 52% from 2 . Compound 2 was obtained from 2-acetamido-3,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-D -glucopyranose ( 1 ) by chlorination and addition of tributyltinlithium in 74% yield. A procedure for a multigram-scale synthesis of 1 is given.     

Globular carbohydrate macromolecule “sugar balls”, 2. Synthesis of mono(glycopeptide)-persubstituted dendrimers by polymer reaction with sugar-substituted α-amino acid N-carboxyanhydrides (glycoNCAs)

Sugar-substituted α-amino acid N-carboxyanhydrides (glycoNCAs), i.e., O-(tetra-O-acetyl-β-D -glucopyranosyl)-L -serine NCA (2a ) and O-(2-acetamido-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-β-D -glucopyranosyl)-L -serine NCA (2b ), were successfully used for the introduction of a mono(glycopeptide) unit into each terminal primary amino group of a dendrimer. Well-defined dendrimer-based artificial glycoconjugates, O-(β-D -glucopyranosyl)-L -serine-persubstituted poly(amido amine) (PAMAM) dendrimer (3a ) and O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-D -glucopyranosyl)-L -serine-persubstituted PAMAM dendrimer (3b ), were synthesized by polymer reaction of PAMAM dendrimer with 2a and 2b , respectively, followed by deacetylation with hydrazine monohydrate.     

Construction of highly glycosylated mucin-type glycopeptides based on microwave-assisted solid-phase syntheses and enzymatic modifications

A MUC1-related glycopeptide having five core-2 hexasaccharide branches (C330H527N46O207, MW = 8450.9) was synthesized by a new strategy using a combination of microwave-assisted solid-phase synthesis (MA-SPGS) and enzymatic sugar elongation. Synthesis of a key glycopeptide intermediate was best achieved in a combination of PEGA [poly(ethylene glycol)-poly-(N,N-dimethylacrylamide) copolymer] resin and MA-SPGS using glycosylated amino acid building blocks with high speed and high purity. Deprotection of the glycopeptide intermediate and subsequent glycosyltransferase-catalyzed sugar elongations were performed for generation of the additional diversities with the sugar moieties of glycopeptides using beta1,4-galactosyltransferase (beta1,4-GalT) and two kinds of alpha2,3-sialyltransferases [ST3Gal III; alpha2,3-(N)-SiaT and ST3Gal II; alpha2,3-(O)-SiaT]. These reactions proceeded successfully in the presence of 0.2% Triton X-100 to convert the chemically synthesized trisaccharide glycans to disialylated hexasaccharide.     

Cross-metathesis of C-allyl iminosugars with alkenyl oxazolidines as a key step in the synthesis of C-iminoglycosyl alpha-amino acids. A route to iminosugar containing C-glycopeptides

[structures: see text] A general access to a novel class of sugar alpha-amino acids composed of iminofuranose and iminopyranose residues anomerically linked to the glycinyl group through an alkyl chain is described. A set of eight compounds was prepared by the same reaction sequence involving as an initial step the Grubbs Ru-carbene-catalyzed cross-metathesis (CM) of various N-Cbz-protected allyl C-iminoglycosides with N-Boc-vinyl- and N-Boc-allyloxazolidine. The isolated yields of the CM products (mixtures of E- and Z-alkenes) varied in the range 40-70%. Each mixture was elaborated by first reducing the carbon-carbon double bond using in situ generated diimide and then unveiling the N-Boc glycinyl group [CH(BocNH)CO2H] by oxidative cleavage of the oxazolidine ring by the Jones reagent. All amino acids were characterized as their methyl esters. The insertion of a model C-iminoglycosyl-2-aminopentanoic acid into a tripeptide via sequential carboxylic and amino group coupling with L-phenylalanine derivatives was carried out as a demonstration of the potential of these sugar amino acids in designed glycopeptide synthesis.     

Nucleic acid base grafted imino polyurethane

Preparation of two model polymers of polynucleotides with linear polyurethane backbone and 2-(thymin-1-yl)propionyl or 2-(uracil-1-yl)propionyl group as grafted pendant are described. 2-(Thymin-1-yl)propionic acid (TPA) and 2-(uracil-1-yl)propionic acid (UPA) were grafted into partial imino functionalized polyurethane, poly[(β,β′-diethylene)amine methylene bis(4-phenylcarbamate)]-75 (PU-NH-75), at the secondary amino group through amide bonds with 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBT) using the active ester technique. Two novel polymer models of polynucleotides, poly[(N-(2-(thymin-1-yl)propionyl)-β,β′-diethylene)amine methylene bis(4-phenylcarbamate)]-75 (PU-NT-75) and poly[(N-(2-(uracil-1-yl)propionyl)-β,β′-diethylene)amine methylene bis(4-phenylcarbamate)]-75 (PU-NU-75) were obtained. The imino polyurethane PU-NH-75 was produced from the partially deprotected N-Cbz imino polyurethane, poly[N-(benzyloxycarbonyl-β,β′-diethylene)amine methylene bis(4-phenylcarbamate)] (PU-NCbz) which was prepared by the polyaddition of 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) with diol monomer N-benzyloxycarbonyl-β,β′-dihydroxyethylamine (CbzHEA). Selective N-protection of N-benzyloxycarbonyloxy-5-norbornene-2,3-bicarboximide (CbzONB) with β,β′-dihydroxyethylamine (HEA) gave the N-Cbz protected diol monomer HEA. The related monomer model compounds were also prepared by the same methods.     

Synthesis of 2-(β-D-ribofuranosyl)[1,3,5]triazines

The synthesis of the first [1,3,5]triazine carbon linked nucleosides are reported. 4-Amino-6-(β-D-ribofuranosyl)[1,3,5]triazin-2(1H)-one ( 8 ), an analog of 5-azacytidine and pseudoisocytidine was prepared. 2,5-Anhydro-D-allonamidine hydrochloride ( 3 ) was condensed with dimethyl cyanoiminodithiocarbonate ( 4 ) to give 4-methylthio-6-(β-D-ribofuranosyl)[1,3,5]triazin-2-amine ( 5 ). Compound 5 was reacted with m-chloroperbenzoic acid to give 4-methylsulfinyl-6-(β-D-ribofuranosyl)[1,3,5]triazin-2-amine ( 6 ). Displacement of the methyl sulfinyl with the appropriate nucleophile gave 6-(β-D-ribofuranosyl)[1,3,5]triazine-2,4-diamine ( 7 ), 4-amino-6-(β-D-ribofuranosyl)[1,3,5]triazin-2(1H)-one ( 8 ), and 4-amino-6-(β-D-ribofuranosyl)[1,3,5]triazine-2(1H)-thione ( 9 ). Dethiation of compound 5 with Raney nickel gave 4-(β-D-ribofuranosyl)[1,3,5]triazin-2-amine ( 10 ). The crystal structure of 7 was determined by single crystal X-ray.     

Synthesis of the 3-methyl and 4-methyl derivatives of 3-amino-3,4-dihydro-1-hydroxycarbostyril and related compounds

The 3-methyl and 4-methyl derivatives of 3-amino-3,4-dihydro-1-hydroxycarbostyril were synthesized by the reductive cyclization of α-methyl-β-(o-nitrophenyl)alanine and α-amino-β-(o-nitrophenyl)butyric acid hydrohalides, respectively, under conditions of catalytic hydrogenation in acidic solution. The free bases of the latter two o-nitroaromatic amino acids were also catalytically hydrogenated under neutral conditions to yield the respective α-methyl-β-(o-aminophenyl)alanine and α-amino-β-(o-aminophenyl)butyric acid which were converted to the corresponding lactams, 3-methyl- and 4-methyl-3-amino-3,4-dihydrocarbostyrils. α-Methyl-β-(o-nitrophenyl)alanine was obtained by acid hydrolysis of 5-methy)-5-(o-nitrobenzyl)hydantoin which was prepared by treatment of o-nitrophenylacetone with potassium cyanide and ammonium carbonate. α-Amino-β-(o-nitrophenyl)butyric acid was synthesized by condensation of α-bromo-o-nitroethylbenzene with diethyl acetamidomalonate, followed by acid hydrolysis of the condensation product. The 4-methylated compounds were obtained as synthetic mixtures of two diasteromeric racemates in nearly the same amounts as shown by nmr spectral analysis. Unlike the demethylated parent compound, 3-amino-3,4-dihydro-1-hydroxycarbostyril, neither the 3-methyl nor 4-methyl analog was found to possess any antibacterial activity.     

β‐Peptide Conjugates: Syntheses and CD and NMR Investigations of β/α‐Chimeric Peptides,of a DPA‐β‐Decapeptide,and of a PEGylated β‐Heptapeptide

β³‐Peptides consisting of six, seven, and ten homologated proteinogenic amino acid residues have been attached to an α‐heptapeptide (all d‐ amino acid residues; 4 ), to a hexaethylene glycol chain (PEGylation; 5c ), and to dipicolinic acid (DPA derivative 6 ), respectively. The conjugation of the β‐peptides with the second component was carried out through the N‐termini in all three cases. According to NMR analysis (CD₃OH solutions), the (M)‐3₁₄‐helical structure of the β‐peptidic segments was unscathed in all three chimeric compounds (Figs. 2, 4, and 5). The α‐peptidic section of the α/β‐peptide was unstructured, and so was the oligoethylene glycol chain in the PEGylated compound. Thus, neither does the appendage influence the β‐peptidic secondary structure, nor does the latter cause any order in the attached oligomers to be observed by this method of analysis. A similar conclusion may be drawn from CD spectra (Figs. 1, 3, and 5). These results bode well for the development of delivery systems involving β‐peptides.     

(Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid)cerium(IV) [CeIV(EDTA)] Complexes with Dual Hydrophobic Binding Sites as Highly Efficient Catalysts for the Hydrolysis of Phosphodiesters

β‐Cyclodextrin (β‐CD) derivatives 1 with an amino group at C(6), C(3), or C(2) were homogeneously linked together by an ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) bridge (Scheme). Coordination of the linker to metal ions and cooperation of the dual cavities of 3 in binding hydrophobic guests were properly demonstrated by NMR techniques and a fluorescence‐based titration method, respectively. The hydrolysis of bis(4‐nitrophenyl) phosphate (BNPP) in the presence of Ce^IV complexes of β‐CD dimers 3 was tens of millionfold faster than that in the absence of the Ce^IV complexes. Hydrophobic binding of the β‐CD cavities was estimated to contribute to the catalysis by a factor of up to 520, and the type of modified sugar unit and the bridging positions influenced this cooperation between the β‐CD moieties and the catalytic metal center.     

Synthesis,and Helix or Hairpin‐Turn Secondary Structures of ‘Mixed’ α/β‐Peptides Consisting of Residues with Proteinogenic Side Chains and of 2‐Amino‐2‐methylpropanoic Acid (Aib)

Twelve peptides, 1 – 12 , have been synthesized, which consist of alternating sequences of α‐ and β‐amino acid residues carrying either proteinogenic side chains or geminal dimethyl groups (Aib). Two peptides, 13 and 14 , containing 2‐methyl‐3‐aminobutanoic acid residues or a ‘random mix’ of α‐, β²‐, and β³‐amino acid moieties were also prepared. The new compounds were fully characterized by CD (Figs. 1 and 2), and ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy, and high‐resolution mass spectrometry (HR‐MS). In two cases, 3 and 14 , we discovered novel types of turn structures with nine‐ and ten‐membered H‐bonded rings forming the actual turns. In two other cases, 8 and 11 , we found 14/15‐helices, which had been previously disclosed in mixed α/β‐peptides containing unusual β‐amino acids with non‐proteinogenic side chains. The helices are formed by peptides containing the amino acid moiety Aib in every other position, and their backbones are primarily not held together by H‐bonds, but by the intrinsic conformations of the containing amino acid building blocks. The structures offer new possibilities of mimicking peptide–protein and protein–protein interactions (PPI).     

Synthese von Nucleosiden aus 2-substituierten Imidazolen

Synthesis of 2-Substituted Imidazole Nucleosides Condensation of the trimethylsilyl derivatives of 2-substituted diethyl and dimethyl imidazole-4,5-dicarboxylates ( 3–5 and 7–9 ) with 1-O-acetyl-2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-β-D -ribofuranose ( 2 ) in the presence of trimethysilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate provided the 2-substituted diethyl and dimethyl 1-(2′,3′, 5′-tri-O-benzoyl-β-D -ribofuranosyl)imidazole-4, 5-dicarboxylates 10–15 . These were treated with ammonia to afford the 2-substituted 1-(β-D -ribofuranosyl)imidazole-4,5-dicarboxamides 16–21 . Treatment of 2-methyl-( 16 ) and 2-ethyl-1-(β-D -ribofuranosyl)imidazole-4,5-dicarboxamide ( 17 ) with fuming nitric acid in oleum at ?30° yielded the nitric acid esters 23 and 24 . Besides the esterification of the sugar hydroxyl groups one H-atom of the imidazolecarboxamide function at C(5) in these nucleosides was also substituted by the NO₂ group. The conformations in solution of 16 and 23 have been determined by ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR. spectroscopy. These studies indicate that the nucleosides exist in dimethyl-sulfoxide solution preferentially in the S-gg-syn-conformation ( 16 ) and N-gt-conformation ( 23 ). In the crystal structure of nucleoside 23 , the ribose was found to be in the O(1′)_endo, C(1′)_exo twist conformation. The conformation about C(4′), C(5′) is gauche-trans and the molecule exists in the syn form.     

Homophymine A, an anti-HIV cyclodepsipeptide from the sponge Homophymia sp

A new anti-HIV cyclodepsipeptide, homophymine A, was isolated from a New Caledonian collection of the marine sponge Homophymia sp. The structure of homophymine A was determined by interpretation of spectroscopic data, acid hydrolysis, and LC-MS analysis. Homophymine A contains 11 amino acid residues and an amide-linked 3-hydroxy-2,4,6-trimethyloctanoic acid moiety. Along with four D-, two L-, and one N-methyl amino acids, it also contains four unusual amino acid residues: (2S,3S,4R)-3,4-diMe-Gln, (2R,3R,4S)-4-amino-2,3-dihydroxy-1,7-heptandioic acid, L-ThrOMe, and (2R,3R,4R)-2-amino-3-hydroxy-4,5-dimethylhexanoic acid. In a cell-based XTT assay, homophymine A exhibited cytoprotective activity against HIV-1 infection with a IC50 of 75 nM.     

MALDI mass spectrometry‐based sequence analysis of arginine‐containing glycopeptides: improved fragmentation of glycan and peptide chains by modifying arginine residue

This paper describes an improved method for the sequence analysis of Arg‐containing glycopeptide by MALDI mass spectrometry (MS). The method uses amino group derivatization (4‐aza‐6‐(2,6‐dimethyl‐1‐piperidinyl)‐5‐oxohexanoic acid N‐succinimidyl ester) and removal (carboxypeptidase B) or modification (peptidylarginine deiminase 4) of the arginine residue of the peptide. The derivatization attaches a basic tertiary amine moiety onto the peptides, and the enzymatic treatment removes or modifies the arginine residue. Fragmentation of the resulting glycopeptide under low‐energy collision‐induced dissociation yielded a simplified ion series of both the glycan and the peptide that can facilitate their sequencing. The feasibility of the method was studied using α₁‐acid glycoprotein‐derived N‐linked glycopeptides, and glycan and peptide in each glycopeptide were successfully sequenced by MALDI tandem MS (MS/MS). Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of the core structure of the lipoteichoic acid of Streptococcus pneumoniae

Streptococcus pneumoniae LTA is a highly complex glycophospholipid that consists of nine carbohydrate residues: three glucose, two galactosamine and two 2‐acetamino‐4‐amino‐2,4,6‐trideoxygalactose (AATDgal) residues that are each differently linked, one ribitol and one diacylated glycerol (DAG) residue. Suitable building blocks for the glucose and the AATDgal residues were designed and their synthesis is described in this paper. These building blocks permitted the successful synthesis of the core structure Glcβ(1‐3)AATDgalβ(1‐3)Glcα(1‐O)DAG in a suitably protected form for further chain extension ( 1 b , 1 c ) and as unprotected glycolipid ( 1 a ) that was employed in biological studies. These studies revealed that 1 a as well as 1 lead to interleukin‐8 release, however not via TLR2 or TLR4 as receptor.     

Preparation and Structure of β-Peptides Consisting of Geminally Disubstituted β2,2- and β3,3-Amino Acids: A Turn Motif for β-Peptides

We report on the synthesis of new and previously described β-peptides ( 1 – 6 ), consisting of up to twelve β^2,2- or β^3,3-geminally disubstituted β-amino acids which do not fit into any of the secondary structural patterns of β-peptides, hitherto disclosed. The required 2,2- and 3,3-dimethyl derivatives of 3-aminopropanoic acid are readily obtained from 3-methylbut-2-enoic acid and ammonia (Scheme 1) and from Boc-protected methyl 3-aminopropanoate by enolate methylation (Scheme 2). Protected (Boc for solution-, Fmoc for solid-phase syntheses) 1-(aminomethyl)cycloalkanecarboxylic-acid derivatives (with cyclopropane, cyclobutane, cyclopentane, and cyclohexane rings) are obtained from 1-cyanocycloalkanecarboxylates and the corresponding dihaloalkanes (Scheme 3). Fully ¹³C- and ¹⁵N-labeled 3-amino-2,2-dimethylpropanoic-acid derivatives were prepared from the corresponding labeled precursors (see asterixed formula numbers and Scheme 4). Coupling of these amino acids was achieved by methods which we had previously employed for other β-peptide syntheses (intermediates 18 – 23 ). Crystal structures of Boc-protected geminally disubstituted amino acids ( 16a – d ) and of the corresponding tripeptide ( 23a ), as well as NMR and IR spectra of an isotopically labeled β-hexapeptide ( 2a* ) are presented (Figs. 1 – 4) and discussed. The tripeptide structure contains a ten-membered H-bonded ring which is proposed to be a turn-forming motif for β-peptides (Fig. 2).     

Synthesis and Conformational Characterisation of Hexameric β‐Peptide Foldamers by Using Double POAC Spin Labelling and cw‐EPR

A selected set of terminally protected β‐hexapeptides, each containing two nitroxide‐based (3R,4R)‐4‐amino‐1‐oxyl‐2,2,5,5‐tetramethylpyrrolidine‐3‐carboxylic acid (POAC) residues combined with four (1S,2S)‐2‐aminocyclopentane‐1‐carboxylic acid (ACPC) residues, was synthesised by using solution methods and was fully characterised. The two POAC residues are separated in the sequences by different numbers of intervening ACPC residues. The conformational features of the doubly spin‐labelled β‐hexapeptides were examined in chloroform by FTIR absorption and continuous‐wave electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopic techniques. In particular, the biradical exchange coupling (J) between two POAC residues within each peptide indicates unambiguously that the secondary structure overwhelmingly adopted is the 12‐helix. Taken together, these results support the view that POAC is an excellent β‐amino acid for exploring this type of helical conformation in doubly labelled β‐peptides.     

Isolation and Structure Characterization of a (4‐O‐Methyl‐d‐glucurono)‐d‐xylan from the Skin of Opuntia ficus‐indica Prickly Pear Fruits

A slightly water soluble (4‐O‐methyl‐d‐glucurono)‐d‐xylan was isolated from the skin of Opuntia ficus‐indica (OFI) fruits by alkaline extraction, followed by ethanol precipitation and ion‐exchange chromatography. The structure of this xylan was determined by sugar determination coupled with a ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy analysis. The xylan consisted of a linear (1→4)‐β‐d‐xylopyranosyl backbone decorated with 4‐O‐methyl‐α‐d‐glucopyranosyluronic acid groups linked to the C‐2 of the xylopyranosyl residues, in the ratio of one uronic acid for six neutral sugar units.     

The Miraculous CD Spectra (and Secondary Structures?) of β‐Peptides as They Grow Longer,Preliminary Communication

The recently improved conditions for solid‐phase synthesis of β³‐peptides by the Fmoc strategy were used to synthesize a β‐tetracosapeptide ( 4 , Scheme) composed of eight different β‐amino acid residues; 11 of the 24 residues carry functionalized proteinogenic side chains (namely those of Glu, Lys, Ser, and Tyr). The highly H₂O‐soluble β‐tetracosapeptide was identified by ¹H‐NMR spectroscopy (in MeOH), analytical HPL chromatography, and ESI‐mass spectrometry (Fig. 1). The expected 3₁₄‐helical secondary structure of the new β‐peptide was designed to have one hydrophobic and two hydrophilic faces, and to be compared with other β‐peptides ( 1 – 3 ), two of which are also of amphipathic character in this secondary structure (Fig. 2). In the absence of NMR‐structural proof, the CD spectra of the four β‐peptides were compared (Figs. 3 and 4). The β‐tetracosapeptide exhibits an unprecedented CD pattern (in MeOH and in H₂O solution) that may arise from a new type of secondary structure or from an unordered conformation.     

Primary structure of β-momorcharin,a ribosome-inactivating protein from the seeds of Momordica Charantia Linn (Cucurbitaceae)

The complete amino acid sequence of β-momorcharin, a ribosome-inactivating protein from the seeds of Momordica charantia Linn (Cucurbitaceae) has been determined. This has been done by the sequence analysis of peptides obtained by enzymatic digestion with trypsin, chymotrypsin and S.aureus V8 protease, as well as by chemical cleavage with BNPS-skatole. The protein consists of 249 amino acid residues containing one asparagine - linked sugar group attached to the site of Asn 51 and has a calculated relative molecular mass of 28,452 Da without addition of the carbohydrate. Comparison of this sequence with those of trichosanthin and other ribosome-inactivating proteins from different species of plants shows a significant homology with each other. Regarding the similarity of their biological properties, an active domain of these proteins has been predicted here.     

Synthesis and Self‐Assembly of Bolaamphiphiles Based on β‐Amino Acids or an Alcohol

The synthesis of bolaamphiphiles from unusual β‐amino acids or an alcohol and C₁₂ or C₂₀ spacers is described. Unusual β‐amino acids such as a sugar amino acid, an AZT‐derived amino acid, a norbornene amino acid, and an AZT‐derived amino alcohol were coupled with spacers under standard conditions to get the novel bolaamphiphiles 5 – 8 (Scheme 1), 12 and 13 (Scheme 2), and 17 and 20 (Scheme 3). Some of these compounds, on precipitation from MeOH/H₂O, self‐assembled into organized molecular structures.