Properties and Reactions of Substituted 1,2‐Thiazetidine 1,1‐Dioxides: Functionalization and Reactions at C(4) of the β‐Sultam

The introduction of functional groups at the 4‐position of the β‐sultam ring was realized by the synthesis of mono‐ and disubstituted derivatives by reactions of N‐silylated β‐sultams with electrophiles in the presence of BuLi or LDA. As electrophiles, ketones, chlorosilanes, a β‐sultam, CO₂, chloroformiate, halogen, azodicarboxylate, phenyltriazoledione, tosyl azide, 1,3,5‐triazine, propyl nitrate, and phenyl isocyanate were used. Furthermore, a number of derivatives of these substitution products were synthesized. All products were characterized by standard spectroscopic methods, and conformations were studied, supported by calculation.     

Synthesis of 2‐phosphoro‐1,2‐thiazetidine 1,1‐dioxide

The reactions of phosphorochloridites 5a–c with an equimolar amount of 1,2‐thiazetidine 1,1‐dioxide (2) or L(−)‐3‐carboethoxy‐1,2‐thiazetidine 1,1‐dioxide (7) in the presence of triethylamine, affords the N‐phosphitylated β‐sultams 6a–b and L(−)‐8a,c. Their oxidation by addition of oxygen, sulfur, or selenium results in formation of stable organophosphorus β‐sultams 10a–b, L(−)‐11a,c, 12a, 13a, L(−)‐14c, and L(−)‐15c. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 10: 61–67, 1999     

7‐Iodo‐5‐aza‐7‐deazaguanine: Syntheses of Anomeric D‐ and L‐Configured 2‐Deoxyribonucleosides

Iodination of N²‐isobutyryl‐5‐aza‐7‐deazaguanine ( 7 ) with N‐iodosuccinimide (NIS) gave 7‐iodo‐N²‐isobutyryl‐5‐aza‐7‐deazaguanine ( 8 ) in a regioselective reaction (Scheme 1). Nucleobase‐anion glycosylation of 8 with 2‐deoxy‐3,5‐di‐O‐toluoyl‐α‐D ‐ or α‐L ‐erythro‐pentofuranosyl chloride furnished anomeric mixtures of D ‐ and L ‐nucleosides. The anomeric D ‐nucleosides were separated by crystallization to give the α‐D ‐anomer and β‐D ‐anomer with excellent optical purity. Deprotection gave the 7‐iodo‐5‐aza‐7‐deazaguanine 2′‐deoxyribonucleosides 3 (β‐D ; ≥99% de) and 4 (α‐D ; ≥99% de). The reaction sequence performed with the D ‐series was also applied to L ‐nucleosides to furnish compounds 5 (β‐L ; ≥99% de) and 6 (α‐L ; ≥95% de).     

Synthesis of Glycaro‐1,5‐lactams and Tetrahydrotetrazolopyridine‐5‐carboxylates: Inhibitors of β‐D‐Glucuronidase and α‐L‐Iduronidase

The known glucaro‐1,5‐lactam 8 , its diastereoisomers 9 – 11 , and the tetrahydrotetrazolopyridine‐5‐carboxylates 12 – 14 were synthesised as potential inhibitors of β‐D ‐glucuronidases and α‐L ‐iduronidases. The known 2,3‐di‐O‐benzyl‐4,6‐O‐benzylidene‐D ‐galactose ( 16 ) was transformed into the D ‐galactaro‐ and L ‐altraro‐1,5‐lactams 9 and 11 via the galactono‐1,5‐lactam 21 in twelve steps and in an overall yield of 13 and 2%, respectively. A divergent strategy, starting from the known tartaric anhydride 41 , led to the D ‐glucaro‐1,5‐lactam 8 , D ‐galactaro‐1,5‐lactam 9 , L ‐idaro‐1,5‐lactam 10 , and L ‐altraro‐1,5‐lactam 11 in ten steps and in an overall yield of 4–20%. The anhydride 41 was transformed into the L ‐threuronate 46 . Olefination of 46 to the (E)‐ or (Z)‐alkene 47 or 48 followed by reagent‐ or substrate‐controlled dihydroxylation, lactonisation, azidation, reduction, and deprotection led to the lactams 8 – 11 . The tetrazoles 12 – 14 were prepared in an overall yield of 61–81% from the lactams 54, 28 , and 67 , respectively, by treatment with Tf₂O and NaN₃, followed by saponification, esterification, and hydrogenolysis. The lactams 8 – 11 and 40 and the tetrazoles 12 – 14 are medium‐to‐strong inhibitors of β‐D ‐glucuronidase from bovine liver. Only the L ‐ido‐configured lactam 10 (K_i = 94 μM ) and the tetrazole 14 (K_i = 1.3 mM ) inhibit human α‐L ‐iduronidase.     

The 5‐Methylisocytosine β‐D‐Ribopyranosyl (4′ → 2′)‐Oligonucleotide

In the context of Eschenmoser's work on pyranosyl‐RNA (‘p‐RNA’), we investigated the synthesis and base‐pairing properties of the 5‐methylisocytidine derivative. The previously determined clear‐cut restrictions of base‐pairing modes of p‐RNA had led to the expectation that a 5‐methylisocytosine β‐D ‐ribopyranosyl (= D ‐pr(^MeisoC)) based (4′ → 2′)‐oligonucleotide would pair inter alia with D ‐pr(isoG) and L ‐pr(G) based oligonucleotides (D ‐pr and L ‐pr = pyranose form of D ‐ and L ‐ribose, resp.). Remarkably, we could not observe pairing with the D ‐pr(isoG) oligonucleotide but only with the L ‐pr(G) oligonucleotide. Our interpretation concludes that this – at first hand surprising – observation is caused by a change in the nucleosidic torsion angle specific for isoC.     

Flavonol Glycosides with α‐Glucosidase Inhibitory Activities and New Flavone C‐Diosides from the Leaves of Machilus konishii

Seventeen flavonoids, five of which are flavone C‐diosides, 1 – 5 , were isolated from the BuOH‐ and AcOEt‐soluble fractions of the leaf extract of Machilus konishii. Among 1 – 5 , apigenin 6‐C‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐2″‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 2 ), apigenin 8‐C‐α‐L ‐arabinopyranosyl‐2″‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 4 ), and apigenin 8‐C‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐2″‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 5 ) are new. Both 4 and 5 are present as rotamer pairs. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of NMR‐spectroscopic analyses and MS data. In addition, the ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR data of apigenin 6‐C‐α‐L ‐arabinopyranosyl‐2″‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 3 ) were assigned for the first time. The isolated compounds were assayed against α‐glucosidase (type IV from Bacillus stearothermophilus). Kaempferol 3‐O‐(2‐β‐D ‐apiofuranosyl)‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranoside ( 12 ) was found to possess the best inhibitory activity with an IC₅₀ value of 29.3 μM .     

A New Route for Preparation of 5‐Deoxy‐5‐(hydroxyphosphinyl)‐ D‐mannopyranose and ‐L‐gulopyranose Derivatives

Starting from methyl 2,3‐O‐isopropylidene‐α‐D ‐mannofuranoside ( 5 ), methyl 6‐O‐benzyl‐2,3‐O‐isopropylidene‐α‐D ‐lyxo‐hexofuranosid‐5‐ulose ( 12 ) was prepared in three steps. The addition reaction of dimethyl phosphonate to 12 , followed by deoxygenation of 5‐OH group, provided the 5‐deoxy‐5‐dimethoxyphosphinyl‐α‐D ‐mannofuranoside derivative 15a and the β‐L ‐gulofuranoside isomer 15b . Reduction of 15a and 15b with sodium dihydrobis(2‐methoxyethoxy)aluminate, followed by the action of HCl and then H₂O₂, afforded the D ‐mannopyranose ( 17 ) and L ‐gulopyranose analog 21 , each having a phosphinyl group in the hemiacetal ring. These were converted to the corresponding 1,2,3,4,6‐penta‐O‐acetyl‐5‐methoxyphosphinyl derivatives 19 and 23 , respectively, structures and conformations (⁴C₁ or ¹C₄, resp.) of which were established by ¹H‐NMR spectroscopy.     

Chiral Space Formed by (+)‐(1S)‐1,1′‐Binaphthalene‐2,2′‐diyl Phosphate: Recognition of Aliphatic L‐α‐Amino Acids

(+)‐(1S)‐1,1′‐Binaphthalene‐2,2′‐diyl hydrogen phosphate (bnppa) is one of the useful optical selectors. To disclose the molecular mechanism by which bnppa recognizes aliphatic L ‐α‐amino acids and separates them by fractional crystallization, X‐ray analyses of bnppa and of its salts with L ‐alanine, L ‐valine, L ‐norvaline, and L ‐norleucine have been undertaken. All the amino acids adopt energetically favorable conformations in the crystal structures. The conformations and the packing patterns of bnppa in these crystal structures are very similar. The bnppa molecules are packed in a specific way to form hydrophobic and hydrophilic layers that are well separated. Between bnppa molecules, at the interface of these hydrophobic and hydrophilic layers, a space with chirality is formed. This space, designated as chiral space, recognizes the optically active amino acids. The packing of bnppa is mainly governed by intermolecular CH⋅⋅⋅π interactions between naphthalene moieties. The chiral space is responsible for the molecular recognition by bnppa allowing fractional crystallization of the L ‐α‐amino acids.     

Huangqiyenins G – J,Four New 9,10‐Secocycloartane (=9,19‐Cyclo‐9,10‐secolanostane) Triterpenoidal Saponins from Astragalus membranaceus Bunge Leaves

Four new 9,10‐secocycloartane (=9,19‐cyclo‐9,10‐secolanostane) triterpenoidal saponins, named huangqiyenins G–J ( 1 – 4 , resp.), were isolated from Astragalus membranaceus Bunge leaves. The acid hydrolysis of 1 – 4 with 1M aqueous HCl yielded D ‐glucose, which was identified by GC analysis after treatment with L ‐cysteine methyl ester hydrochloride. The structures of 1 – 4 were established by detailed spectroscopic analysis as (3β,6α,10α,16β,24E)‐3,6‐bis(acetyloxy)‐10,16‐dihydroxy‐12‐oxo‐9,19‐cyclo‐9,10‐secolanosta‐9(11),24‐dien‐26‐yl β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 1 ), (3β,6a,10α,24E)‐3,6‐bis(acetyloxy)‐10‐hydroxy‐12,16‐dioxo‐9,19‐cyclo‐9,10‐secolanosta‐9(11),24‐dien‐26‐yl β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 2 ), (3β,6α,9α,10α,16β,24E)‐3,6‐bis(acetyloxy)‐9,10,16‐trihydroxy‐9,19‐cyclo‐9,10‐secolanosta‐11,24‐dien‐26‐yl β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 3 ), and (3β,6α,10α,24E)‐3,6‐bis(acetyloxy)‐10‐hydroxy‐16‐oxo‐9,19‐cyclo‐9,10‐secolanosta‐9(11),24‐dien‐26‐yl β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 4 ).     

β‐Hairpins Generated from Hybrid Peptide Sequences Containing both α‐ and β‐Amino Acids

The incorporation of the β‐amino acid residues into specific positions in the strands and β‐turn segments of peptide hairpins is being systematically explored. The presence of an additional torsion variable about the C(α) C(β) bond (θ) enhances the conformational repertoire in β‐residues. The conformational analysis of three designed peptide hairpins composed of α/β‐hybrid segments is described: Boc‐Leu‐Val‐Val‐^DPro‐β Phe ‐Leu‐Val‐Val‐OMe ( 1 ), Boc‐Leu‐Val‐β Val ‐^DPro‐Gly‐β Leu ‐Val‐Val‐OMe ( 2 ), and Boc‐Leu‐Val‐β Phe ‐Val‐^DPro‐Gly‐Leu‐β Phe ‐Val‐Val‐OMe ( 3 ). 500‐MHz ¹H‐NMR Analysis supports a preponderance of β‐hairpin conformation in solution for all three peptides, with critical cross‐strand NOEs providing evidence for the proposed structures. The crystal structure of peptide 2 reveals a β‐hairpin conformation with two β‐residues occupying facing, non‐H‐bonded positions in antiparallel β‐strands. Notably, βVal(3) adopts a gauche conformation about the C(α) C(β) bond (θ=+65°) without disturbing cross‐strand H‐bonding. The crystal structure of 2 , together with previously published crystal structures of peptides 3 and Boc‐β Phe ‐β Phe ‐^DPro‐Gly‐β Phe ‐β Phe ‐OMe, provide an opportunity to visualize the packing of peptide sheets with local ‘polar segments' formed as a consequence of reversal peptide‐bond orientation. The available structural evidence for hairpins suggests that β‐residues can be accommodated into nucleating turn segments and into both the H‐bonding and non‐H‐bonding positions on the strands.     

Syntheses of β‐C(1→3)‐Glucopyranosides of 2‐ and 4‐Deoxy‐D‐hexoses

The Oshima? Nozaki (Et₂AlI) condensation of isolevoglucosenone ( 4 ) with 2,6‐anhydro‐3,4,5,7‐tetra‐O‐benzyl‐D ‐glycero‐D ‐gulo‐heptose ( 5 ) gave an enone 6 that was converted with high stereoselectivity to 3‐C‐[(1R)‐2,6‐anhydro‐D ‐glycero‐D ‐gulo‐heptitol‐1‐C‐yl]‐2,3‐dideoxy‐D ‐arabino‐hexose ( 1 ; 1 : 1 mixture of α‐ and β‐D ‐pyranose), and to 3‐C‐[(1R)‐2,6‐anhydro‐D ‐glycero‐D ‐gulo‐heptitol‐1‐C‐yl]‐2,3‐dideoxy‐D ‐lyxo‐hexose ( 2 ; 2.7 : 1.4 : 1.0 : 1.4 mixture of α‐D ‐furanose, β‐D ‐furanose, α‐D ‐pyranose, and β‐D ‐pyranose). The Oshima? Nozaki (Et₂AlI) condensation of levoglucosenone ( 17 ) with aldehyde 5 gave an enone 18 that was converted with high stereoselectivity to 3‐C‐[(1R)‐2,6‐anhydro‐D ‐glycero‐D ‐gulo‐heptitol‐1‐C‐yl]‐3,4‐dideoxy‐α‐D ‐arabino‐hexopyranose ( 3 ; single anomer).     

5‐Aza‐7‐deazaguanine DNA: Recognition and Strand Orientation of Oligonucleotides Incorporating Anomeric Imidazo[1,2‐a]‐1,3,5‐triazine Nucleosides

The base‐pairing properties of oligonucleotides containing the anomeric 5‐aza‐7‐deazaguanine 2′‐deoxyribonucleosides 1 and 5 are described. The oligonucleotides were prepared by solid‐phase synthesis, employing phosphoramidite or phosphonate chemistry. Stable `purine'⋅purine duplexes with antiparallel (aps) chain orientation are formed, when the α‐D ‐anomer 5 alternates with the β‐D ‐anomeric 2′‐deoxyguanosine ( 2 ) within the same oligonucleotide chain. Parallel (ps) oligonucleotide duplexes are observed, when the β‐D anomer 1 alternates with 2 . A renewed reversal of the chain orientation (ps→aps) occurs when compound 1 pairs with 2′‐deoxyisoguanosine ( 6 ). In all cases, it is unnecessary to change the orientation within a single strand when α‐D units alternate with their β‐D counterparts. Heterochiral base pairs of 5 (α‐D ) with 2′‐deoxyisoguanosine (β‐D ) are well accommodated in duplexes with random base composition and parallel chain orientation. Base pairs of 5 (α‐D ) with 2′‐deoxyguanosine (β‐D ) destabilize duplexes with antiparallel chains.     

Synthesis and Properties of O‐β‐D‐ribofuranosyl‐(1″→2′)‐guanosine‐5″‐ O‐phosphate and Its Derivatives

The efficient synthesis of O‐β‐D ‐ribofuranosyl‐(1″→2′)‐guanosine‐5″‐O‐phosphate and O‐β‐D ‐ribofuranosyl‐(1″→2′)‐adenosine‐5″‐O‐phosphate, minor tRNA components, have been developed, and their conformational properties were examined by NMR spectroscopy.     

Synthesis of Poly(α‐alkyl β,L‐aspartate)s by Transesterification

A new procedure for the preparation of poly(α‐alkyl β,L ‐aspartate)s based on the transesterification of polyα‐benzyl β,L ‐aspartate) with alcohols in the presence of titanium tetrabutoxide is described. The reaction proceeded to almost total conversion without substantial racemization or imidation. Thermal properties of the resulting polymers were comparable to those of their homologues obtained by anionic ring‐opening polymerization of β‐lactams and their thermal stability is even higher.     

Synthesis of 5′‐O‐(2‐Azido‐2‐deoxy‐α‐D‐glycosyl)nucleosides and Their Antitumor Activities

The 1,3,4,6‐tetra‐O‐acetyl‐2‐azido‐2‐deoxy‐β‐D ‐mannopyranose ( 4 ) or the mixture of 1,3,6‐tri‐O‐acetyl‐2‐azido‐2‐deoxy‐4‐O‐(2,3,4,6‐tetra‐O‐acetyl‐β‐D ‐galactopyranosyl)‐β‐D ‐mannopyranose ( 10 ) and the corresponding α‐D ‐glucopyranose‐type glycosyl donor 9 / 10 reacted at room temperature with protected nucleosides 12 – 15 in CH₂Cl₂ solution in the presence of BF₃?OEt₂ as promoter to give 5′‐O‐(2‐azido‐2‐deoxy‐α‐D ‐glycosyl)nucleosides in reasonable yields (Schemes 2 and 3). Only the 5′‐O‐(α‐D ‐mannopyranosyl)nucleosides were obtained. Compounds 21, 28, 30 , and 31 showed growth inhibition of HeLa cells and hepatoma Bel‐7402 cells at a concentration of 10 μM in vitro.     

Synthesis and Conformational Analysis of 1′‐ and 3′‐Substituted 2‐Deoxy‐2‐fluoro‐D‐ribofuranosyl Nucleosides

Convergent syntheses of the 9‐(3‐X‐2,3‐dideoxy‐2‐fluoro‐β‐D ‐ribofuranosyl)adenines 5 (X=N₃) and 7 (X=NH₂), as well as of their respective α‐anomers 6 and 8 , are described, using methyl 2‐azido‐5‐O‐benzoyl‐2,3‐dideoxy‐2‐fluoro‐β‐D ‐ribofuranoside ( 4 ) as glycosylating agent. Methyl 5‐O‐benzoyl‐2,3‐dideoxy‐2,3‐difluoro‐β‐D ‐ribofuranoside ( 12 ) was prepared starting from two precursors, and coupled with silylated N⁶‐benzoyladenine to afford, after deprotection, 2′,3′‐dideoxy‐2′,3′‐difluoroadenosine ( 13 ). Condensation of 1‐O‐acetyl‐3,5‐di‐O‐benzoyl‐2‐deoxy‐2‐fluoro‐β‐D ‐ribofuranose ( 14 ) with silylated N²‐palmitoylguanine gave, after chromatographic separation and deacylation, the N⁷‐β‐anomer 17 as the main product, along with 2′‐deoxy‐2′‐fluoroguanosine ( 15 ) and its N⁹‐α‐anomer 16 in a ratio of ca. 42 : 24 : 10. An in‐depth conformational analysis of a number of 2,3‐dideoxy‐2‐fluoro‐3‐X‐D ‐ribofuranosides (X=F, N₃, NH₂, H) as well as of purine and pyrimidine 2‐deoxy‐2‐fluoro‐D ‐ribofuranosyl nucleosides was performed using the PSEUROT (version 6.3) software in combination with NMR studies.     

Regioselective Benzoylation of 6‐O‐Protected and 4,6‐O‐Diprotected Hexopyranosides as Promoted by Chiral and Achiral Ditertiary 1,2‐Diamines

Monobenzoylation of triols (6‐O‐silylated glycopyranosides) or diols (4,6‐O‐benzylidenated glycopyranosides) with benzoyl chloride and triethylamine at ?60° to 23° is promoted by catalytic amounts of ditertiary 1,2‐diamines. The regioselectivity depends mostly on the structure of the alcohols; it is modulated by the configuration and constitution of the diamines, as shown by comparing the effect of Oriyama's catalyst ((S)‐ 1 and (R)‐ 1 ), N,N,N′,N′‐tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA), N,N,N′,N′‐tetraethylethylenediamine (TEEDA), Et₃N, and EtNMe₂. The effect of the catalysts on the reactivity is impaired by their steric hindrance. In agreement with the modest enantioselectivity of the mono‐ and dibenzoylation of rac‐cyclohexane‐1,2‐diol in the presence of Oriyama's catalyst, the influence of these diamines on the regioselectivity is rather limited. While associated with procedural simplicity, these catalysts lead, in a few cases, to higher yields of a single benzoate than established methods, viz. in the preparation of the 3‐O‐benzoyl β‐D ‐glucopyranoside 4 , the 2‐O‐benzoyl α‐D ‐galactopyranoside 22 , the 3‐O‐benzoyl α‐D ‐galactopyranoside 23 , and the benzylidenated 2‐O‐benzoyl α‐D ‐galactopyranoside 44 . The regioselective benzoylation of the benzylidenated β‐D ‐mannopyranoside 47 , leading to 48 , appears to be new.     

Isoquinuclidine Mimics of β‐D‐Glucopyranosides: Differences and Similarities in the Mechanism of Action of some β‐D‐Glucosidases and a β‐D‐Mannosidase

The D ‐gluco‐isoquinuclidines 3 and 4 were prepared and tested as inhibitors of the β‐glucosidases from Caldocellum saccharolyticum and from sweet almonds; the results are compared to the inhibition of snail β‐mannosidase by the D ‐manno‐isoquinuclidines 1 and 2 . Exploratory experiments in the racemic series showed that treatment of the ester epoxide 6 with benzyl alcoholates leads only to epimerisation, transesterification, and formation of the cyclopropane 9 . Ring opening of the reduced epoxide 13 by NaN₃ proceeded regioselectively to provide 14 . Treatment of the C(6)? O‐triflate 16 with AcOCs induced a rearrangement; the reaction with NaN₃ gave the C(5)‐azido derivative 14 . The acetoxy triflate 18 , however, reacted with AcOCs to provide the desired gluco‐isoquinuclidine 19 . Similarly, the enantiomerically pure acetoxy triflate 22 provided the D ‐gluco‐isoquinuclidine 24 , which was reduced and deprotected to provide 3 and 4 . The deoxy analogues 30 and 31 were obtained by reductive deiodination of the iodide 27 , derived from 22 . The D ‐gluco‐isoquinuclidines 3, 4, 30 , and 31 are much weaker inhibitors of β‐glucosidases than the D ‐manno‐analogues 1 and 2 of snail β‐mannosidase. The N‐benzyl derivative 3 is a weaker inhibitor than the N‐unsubstituted analogue in the gluco‐series, while it is a much stronger inhibitor in the manno‐series. A consideration of the pK_HA values of the isoquinuclidines 1 – 4 and the pH value of the enzyme assays suggests that the D ‐gluco‐isoquinuclidines are poor mimics of the shape of a reactive, enzyme‐bound gluco‐conformer, while the D ‐manno‐analogues are reasonably good mimics of a reactive, enzyme‐bound manno‐conformer. The inhibition results may also suggest that the glycosidase induced lengthening of the scissile bond and rehybridisation of the anomeric centre are more strongly correlated with the change of the ground‐state conformation during hydrolysis of β‐D ‐glucopyranosides than of β‐D ‐mannopyranosides.     

Two New Cytotoxic Nonsulfated Pentasaccharide Holostane (=20‐Hydroxylanostan‐18‐oic Acid γ‐Lactone) Glycosides from the Sea Cucumber Holothuria grisea

Two new lanostane‐type nonsulfated pentasaccharide triterpene glycosides, 17‐dehydroxyholothurinoside A ( 1 ) and griseaside A ( 2 ), were isolated from the sea cucumber Holothuria grisea. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including 2D‐NMR and MS experiments, as well as chemical evidence. Compounds 1 and 2 possess the same pentasaccharide moieties but differ slightly in their side chains of the holostane‐type triterpene aglycone. The structures of the two new glycosides were established as (3β,12α)‐22,25‐epoxy‐3‐{(O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐O‐[O‐3‐O‐methyl‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐6‐deoxy‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→2)]‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl)oxy}‐12,20‐dihydroxylanost‐9(11)‐en‐18‐oic acid γ‐lactone ( 1 ) and (3β,12α)‐3‐{(O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐O‐[O‐3‐O‐methyl‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐6‐deoxy‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→2)]‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl)oxy}‐12,20,22‐trihydroxylanost‐9(11)‐en‐18‐oic acid γ‐lactone ( 2 ). The 17‐dehydroxyholothurinoside A ( 1 ) and griseaside A ( 2 ) exhibited significant cytotoxicity against HL‐60, BEL‐7402, Molt‐4, and A‐549 cancer cell lines.     

Synthesis of the Anticodon Hairpin tRNAfMet Containing N‐{[9‐(β‐D‐Ribofuranosyl)‐9H‐purin‐6‐yl]carbamoyl}‐L‐threonine (=N6‐{{[(1S,2R)‐1‐Carboxy‐2‐hydroxypropyl]amino}carbonyl}adenosine,t6A)

As part of our studies on the structure of yeast ^tRNA_f^Met, we investigated the incorporation of N‐{[9‐(β‐D ‐ribofuranosyl)‐9H‐purin‐6‐yl]carbamoyl}‐L ‐threonine (t⁶A) in the loop of a RNA 17‐mer hairpin. The carboxylic function of the L ‐threonine moiety of t⁶A was protected with a 2‐(4‐nitrophenyl)ethyl group, and a (tert‐butyl)dimethylsilyl group was used for the protection of its secondary OH group. The 2′‐OH function of the standard ribonucleotide building blocks was protected with a [(triisopropylsilyl)oxy]methyl group. Removal of the base‐labile protecting groups of the final RNA with 1,8‐diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec‐7‐ene (DBU) and then with MeNH₂ was done under carefully controlled conditions to prevent hydrolysis of the carbamate function, leading to loss of the L ‐threonine moiety.