Simple preparation of phenylpropenoid β-d-glucopyranoside congeners by Mizoroki-Heck type reaction using organoboron reagents

Palladium(II)-catalyzed carbon-carbon bond formation between allyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (3) and arylboronic acid congeners gave the corresponding cinnamyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl- β-d-glucopyranosides (4a-m) in good yield. Among them, coupling products 4a-m were converted to not only the naturally occurring phenylpropenoid β-d-glucopyranoside analogues (1a-e) but also the unnaturally ones (1f-m).     

Phytochemical investigation of ethyl acetate extract from Curcuma aromatica Salisb. rhizomes

Three phytochemicals, curcumin 1, demethoxycurcumin 2 and β-sitosterol-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside 3 have been isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of rhizomes of Curcuma aromatica. Chemical structures of all the three isolates were determined using spectroscopic and chemical analyses. β-Sitosterol-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside has been isolated for the first time from this plant.     

Simple synthesis of phenylpropenoid β-d-glucopyranoside congeners based on Mizoroki-Heck type reaction of organoboron reagents

Palladium(II)-catalyzed carbon-carbon bond formation between allyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (3) and phenylboronic acid congeners gave the phenylpropenoid 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (4a-f) in good yield. Among them, compounds 4a-c were converted to the naturally occurring phenylpropenoid β-d-glucopyranoside analogues (1a-c).     

Towards cyclic,conformationally constrained,fluorine-containing β-amino acid derivatives from d-glucose

Novel, potentially bioactive, fluorinated branched-chain monosaccharides were obtained by reaction of diethylaminosulphur trifluoride (DAST) with a series of methyl 3-C-cyano-3-ethoxycarbonyl-β-d-glucopyranoside derivatives, including the 4,6-O-benzylidene derivative and their 3-C-(N-protected aminomethyl) reduction products, as well as the phenyl 3-C-cyano-3-ethoxycarbonyl-1-thio-α-d-(and β-d-)glucopyranosides. The absolute configuration at C(3) was unambiguously assigned for all compounds on the basis of X-ray crystallographic analysis of methyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-3-C-cyano-3-deoxy-3-ethoxycarbonyl-β-d-glucopyranoside, corroborating the previous tentative assignment by other authors for the 4,6-unprotected compound. The course of the fluorination depended on the reaction temperature and the substitution pattern of the substrate. Thus, for methyl 3-C-cyano-3-ethoxycarbonyl-β-d-glucopyranoside, fluorination occurred exclusively at C(6), but for the phenylthio analogue, a 2-deoxy-2-phenylthio-α-d-manno-configured glycosyl fluoride and its 6-fluoro derivative were obtained, resulting from the expected rearrangement reaction, whilst starting from the phenylthio α anomer, only the unrearranged 6-fluoro compound was formed. Rearrangement was also observed in the fluorination of methyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-3-C-(N-protected aminomethyl)-β-d-glucopyranoside, which led to the 2-O-methyl-α-d-mannopyranosyl fluoride derivative as the sole product. This methodology may constitute a simple route to enantiopure conformationally constrained cyclic fluorinated β-amino acids having the α carbon atom shared with a pyranose ring, although only moderate yields were achieved, particularly in the fluorination step.     

Unusual α-glycosylation with galactosyl donors with a C2 ester capable of neighboring group participation

Glycosylation of 4-methoxyphenyl 2,3,6-tri-O-benzoyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (2) with isopropyl 3-O-allyl-2,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl- (9) or 6-O-allyl-2,3,4-tri-O-benzoyl-1-thio-β-d-galactopyranoside (7) as the donor, afforded an α- and β-linked mixture, whereas with isopropyl 3-O-chloroacetyl-2-O-benzoyl-4,6-O-benzylidene- (13) and isopropyl 3-O-allyl-2-O-benzoyl-4,6-O-benzylidene-1-thio-β-d-galactopyranoside (15) as the donor, glycosylation of 2 gave α-linked products only, indicating that 4,6-O-benzylidenation led to α-stereoselectivity in spite of the C2 ester capable of neighboring group participation. Using 15 as the donor, glycosylation of mannose derivatives with 2- or 3-OH's, glucose with 2- or 3-OH's, galactose with 2-, or 3-, or 4-OH's, glucosamine and glucuronic acid with a 4-OH, and a lactose derivative with a 4-OH, also furnished α-linked products. However, when using 15 as the donor, glycosylation of aglycon alcohol or sugars with 6-OH's yielded normal β-linked products.     

Synthesis of an aryl 2-deoxy-β-glycosyl tetrasaccharide to probe retaining endo-glycosidase mechanism

The synthesis of the 1,3–1,4-β-glucanase substrate analogue 4-nitrophenyl O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-2-desoxi-β-d-glucopyranoside 2 is reported. Starting from the main tetrasaccharide obtained by enzymatic depolymerization of barley β-glucan, the synthetic scheme involves preparation of the corresponding 3-O-substituted glycal which was converted into a 2-deoxy-α-glycosyl iodide as a glycosyl donor. The key glycosylation step was successfully achieved by nucleophilic substitution of the iodide donor with 4-nitrophenolate with high β-selectivity.     

Formation of water-soluble vitamin derivatives from lipophilic vitamins by cultured plant cells

Glycosylation of vitamin E, its homologues, and vitamin A by cultured plant cells of Phytolacca americana and Catharanthus roseus was investigated to produce water-soluble vitamin derivatives. Two new compounds, that is, 2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4-methylpentyl)chroman-6-yl β-d-glucopyranoside and 2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4,8-dimethylnonyl)chroman-6-yl β-d-glucopyranoside, together with 2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)chroman-6-yl β-d-glucopyranoside were isolated from the cultured cells of P. americana following administration of vitamin E and its homologues, that is, 2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4-methylpentyl)-6-chromanol, 2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4,8-dimethylnonyl)-6-chromanol and 2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-6-chromanol (vitamin E). On the other hand, glycosylation by C. roseus gave two new compounds, that is, 2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4-methylpentyl)chroman-6-yl 6-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-β-d-glucopyranoside and 2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4,8-dimethylnonyl)chroman-6-yl 6-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-β-d-glucopyranoside, as well. Furthermore, conversion of vitamin A (retinol) by these cultured cells afforded retinyl β-d-glucopyranoside.     

Tomato steroidal alkaloid glycosides, esculeosides A and B, from ripe fruits

Major novel steroidal alkaloid glycosides, named esculeoside A (1) and esculeoside B (2), have been isolated from the pink color-type and the red color-type, respectively, of the ripe tomato fruits of Lycopersicon esculentum MILL. for the first time. The structures of 1 and 2 have been characterized as 3-O-β-lycotetraosyl (5S,22S,23S,25S)-23-acetoxy-3β,27-dihydroxyspirosolane 27-O-β-d-glucopyranoside and 3-O-β-lycotetraosyl (5S,22S,23R,25S)-22,26-epimino-16β,23-epoxy-3β,23,27-trihydroxycholestane 27-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, respectively.     

A new eudesmane sesquiterpene glycoside from Parepigynum funingense

A new eudesmane sesquiterpene glycoside,1α,6β-dihydroxy-5,10-bis-epi-eudesm-4(15)-ene-6-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(2), together with a known analogue compound,1α,6β-dihydroxy-5,10-bis-epi-eudesm-3-ene-6-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(1),were isolated from the roots of Parepigynumfuningense.The structure of 2 was determined by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy.Compound 1 was isolated from this plant for the first time.     

Organofluorine compounds and fluorinating agents

Starting with 1,2,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-3-O-dodecyl-β-d-glucose (1), mixed alkyl-perfluoroalkyl substituted sugar derivatives with an anomeric perfluoroalkylthio group and an O-alkyl group in the 3 position were synthesized via 2,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-3-O-dodecyl-1-thio-β-d-glucose (4). The latter was S-perfluorohexylated with 1-iodoperfluorohexane in a dithionite initiated reaction yielding perfluorohexyl 2,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-3-O-dodecyl-1-thio-β-d-glucopyranoside (5). Experiments with the aim compound 5 completely to deacetylate ended in surprising results. Thus, methanolic methanolate solution produced the orthoester 7 as the result of α-fluoride replacement by methoxy groups as well as the methyl glucoside 8 as the result of a transglycosylation reaction. Alumina supported cesium fluoride cleaved regioselectively the two acetyl groups in the 4- and 6-position yielding perfluorohexyl 2-O-acetyl-3-O-dodecyl-1-thio-β-d-glucopyranoside (10). A complete deacetylation of 5 to amphiphile 11 succeeded only with methanolic tert-butanolate. However, the products 8 and 10 were likewise formed.     

The microbiological transformation of steroidal saponins by Curvularia lunata

The microbiological transformation of polyphyllin I (compound I), polyphyllin III (compound II), polyphyllin V (compound III) and polyphyllin VI (compound IV) by Curvularia lunata into their corresponding subsaponins, for example, diosgenin-3-O-α-l-arabinofuranosyl (1→4)-β-d-glucopyranoside (compound V), diosgenin-3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl (1→4)-β-d-glucopyranoside (compound VI), diosgenin-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (compound VII) and pennogenin-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (compound VIII), were studied in this paper. Curvularia lunata is able to hydrolyze terminal rhamnosyls that are linked by 1→2 C- bond to sugar residues of steroidal saponins at C-3 position with high activity and regioselectivity.     

Selective monoallylation of β-cyclodextrin

Reaction of β-cyclodextrin with allyl bromide in dimethyl sulfoxide affords 2-О-allyl-β-cyclodextrin, while in dimethylformamide 6-О-allyl-β-cyclodextrin is formed. Optimal conditions of the reaction were found allowing to obtain the target products in quantitative yield.     

An improved method for synthesizing antennary β-d-mannopyranosyl disaccharide units

The merits of an indirect protecting method for hydroxyl groups using allyl groups via allyloxycarbonyl groups in the synthesis of antennary β-d-mannopyranosyl disaccharides from β-d-galactopyranosyl disaccharides were studied. Regioselective allyloxycarbonylation and conversion reactions involving simultaneous double S_N2 nucleophilic substitution at C-2′ and C-4′ of benzyl O-[β-d-galactopyranosyl]-(1-4)-3,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-2-N-phthalimido-β-d-glucopyranoside were examined for comparison with the direct allylation method. The required β-d-mannopyranosyl disaccharide having proper protecting groups was obtained using this indirect method in 52% yield. In contrast, the reported direct allylation method using methyl O-(β-d-galactopyranosyl) disaccharide gave the corresponding β-d-mannopyranosyl disaccharide in only 7.5% yield.     

Two novel carbonic acid esters conjugated with oligophenyl glucosides from Rhamnus nakaharai

Two novel carbonic acid esters conjugated with oligomeric phenyl glycosides have been isolated and characterized from the wood of Rhamnus nakaharai. The structures are characterized as 5,7-dihydroxyphthalide 5-O-β-[6-O-{3″-methoxy-4″-O-β-[6?-O-(4?-O-carboxy-3?,5?-dimethoxy)phenyl]glucopyranosyl}phenyl]glucopyranoside (1) and 6-O-{3′-methoxy-4′-O-β-[6″-O-(3?-mercapto-5?-methoxy-4?-O-methylcarboxy)phenyl]glucopyranosyl}phenyl β-glucopyranose (2), namely, rhamnakoside A (1) and B (2), all by NMR and other spectral methods, respectively. They could be a novel case of phase II detoxification products and biogenetic diversity in plant kingdom.     

A novel stereoselective synthesis of (−)-β-conhydrine from (R)-2,3-O-cyclohexylidine glyceraldehyde

A novel stereoselective synthesis of (−)-β-conhydrine is achieved. Stereoselective Grignard reaction of (R)-2,3-O-cyclohexylidine glyceraldehyde with ethyl magnesium bromide, chelation controlled stereoselective Grignard reaction of allyl imine derivative with allyl magnesium bromide, and ring-closing metathesis (RCM) of the diallyl product provides (−)-β-conhydrine in high yield.     

Four new constituents from Taraxacum mongolicum

Two new flavone glycosides,isoetin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-2′-O-α-L-arabinopyranoside (1) and isoetin-7-O-β-D-glucopyr- anosyl-2′-O-α-D-glucopyranoside (2),a new lignan,mongolicumin A (3),and a new guaianolide,mongolicumin B (4) were isolated from the aerial part of Taraxacum mongolicum.Their structures were elucidated mainly by spectral analyses.     

Stereoselective synthesis of novel N-(α-l-arabinofuranos-1-yl)-l-amino acids

In lead detoxification, the α-anomer of N-glycocyl-l-amino acid is more potent than its β-anomer. Here a six-step-reaction route for stereoselectively preparing N-(α-l-arabinose-1-yl)-l-amino acids is reported. Treating l-arabinose with acetic anhydride and sodium acetate provided 1,2,3,5-tetra-O-acetyl-l-arabinofuranose in 90% yield. After removing the 1-acetyl group, the thus formed 2,3,5-tri-O-acetyl-l-arabinofuranose and N-(2-nitrophenylsulfonyl)-l-amino acid t-butylesters were treated with triphenylphosphine to perform Mitsunobu dehydration and form 2,3,5-tri-O-acetyl-l-arabinofuranosyl-l-[N-(2-nitrophenylsulfonyl)]amino acid t-butylesters 2a–f, and the ratios of their α- to β-anomer ranged from 8/1 to 9/1. Chromatographic separation provided epimerically pure 2a–f-α and 2a–f-β. In the presence of CF₃CO₂H, 2a–f-α and 2a–f-β were converted to α- and β-anomers of N-(2,3,5-tri-O-acetyl-l-arabinofuranosyl)-N-(2-nitrobenzenesulfonyl)-l-amino acids, 3a–f-α and 3a–f-β, in 87–92% yields. While in the presence of NaOCH₃, 3a–f-α and 3a–f-β were converted to α- and β-anomers of N-(l-arabinofuranosyl)-N-(2-nitrobenzenesulfonyl)-l-amino acids, 4a–f-α and 4a–f-β, in 90–96% yields. Treating 4a–f-α and 4a–f-β with N-ethyldiisopropylamine (DIPEA) and thiophenol, their 2-nitrophenylsulfonyl groups were removed, and the α- and β-anomers of N-(l-arabinose-1-yl)-l-amino acids were formed in 70–79% yields. The bioassay confirmed that the lead detoxification activity of the α-anomer was significantly higher than that of the β-anomer.     

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.     

Furostanol saponins with inhibitory action against COX-2 production from Tupistra chinensis rhizomes

Two furostanol saponins were obtained from the n-butanol fraction of methanol extract from Tupistra chinensis rhizomes,a folk medicine of Shennongjia Forest District of Hubei Province.Their structures were determined as (25S)-26-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyl)- furost-1β,3β,22α,26-tetrol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranoside (1) and (25R)- 26-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyl)-furost-1β,3β22α,26-tetrol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glu- copyranoside (2),on basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidences.1 and 2 displayed marked inhibitory action towards COX-2 production in macrophages of the rat abdomen induced by LPS at 20μg/mL.     

The first synthesis of secondary sugar sulfonic acids by nucleophilic displacement reactions

The 4-deoxy-4-C-sulfonic acid and 6-deoxy-6-C-sulfonic acid derivatives of methyl α-d-gluco- and α-d-galactopyranosides were prepared by triflate-mediated nucleophilic displacement reactions, either with NaHSO₃ or with AcSK. The triflate esters of methyl 2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl- 1, methyl 2,3,6-tri-O-benzyl-α-d-glucopyranoside 9 and methyl 2,3,6-tri-O-benzyl-α-d-galactopyranoside 5 provided methyl 6-deoxy-6-C-sulfo-α-d-glucopyranoside 4, methyl 4-deoxy-4-C-sulfo-α-d-galactopyranoside 12 and α-d-glucopyranoside 8, respectively. The triflate derivative of methyl 2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-α-d-galactopyranoside 13 gave methyl 3,6-anhydro-2,4-di-O-benzyl-α-d-galactopyranoside 14. Formation of the 3,6-anhydro derivative was prevented by using 3,4-O-isopropylidene acetal protection to obtain methyl 6-deoxy-6-C-sulfo-α-d-galactopyranoside 19. The aim of the research is to replace the sulfate esters by sulfonic acids in the repeating oligosaccharide units of glycosaminoglycans or in different oligosaccharide ligands.