The preparation of novel histrionicotoxin analogues and their activity towards the α4β2 and α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

Four histrionicotoxin analogues were prepared in an efficient manner utilizing a nitrone dipolar cycloaddition reaction as the key step in forming tricyclic intermediate 13. The nitrile in intermediate 13 was reduced with DIBAL to an aldehyde which then underwent Z-selective Wittig reactions to produce intermediates containing the Z-alkene side-chain. Hydrogenation of the Z-alkenes produced saturated histrionicotoxin analogues whereas reduction with SmI₂ afforded the unsaturated histrionicotoxin analogues. The histrionicotoxin analogues were shown to be potent non-competitive antagonists of the α4β2 and α7 nAChR's with the most potent analogue 3 displaying IC₅₀'s of 0.10 μM and 0.45 μM against the α4β2 and α7 nAChR's, respectively. The unsaturated analogues 15 and 18 displayed Hill slope (n_H) of approximately 1 whilst the saturated analogues 16 and 3 had a n_H of approximately 0.5, which may indicate that the saturated analogues are binding to more than one binding site.     

Differentiation of stereochemistry of glycosidic bond configuration: Tandem mass spectrometry of diastereomeric cobalt-glucosyl-glucose disaccharide complexes

Configurations of glycosidic linkages (α or β) in a series of 1,3-, 1,4-, and 1,6-glucosyl-glucose disaccharides were differentiated by tandem mass spectrometry. Diastereomeric octahedral complexes, [Co⁺³ (acac)₂/disaccharide]⁺, were generated in situ via fast-atom bombardment ionization. Mass-analyzed, ion kinetic energy spectra of the metastable complexes obtained in the absence of collision gas indicated that the major product ion results from the loss of an acetylacetonate ligand, which thus generates the ion [Co⁺²(acac)/disaccharide]⁺. Kinetic energy release measurements for this dissociation display a consistently greater value for complexes that possess an α-linked disaccharide relative to those that possess β-linked disaccharides, regardless of linkage position.     

α-Selective glycosidation of d-tagatofuranose with a 3,4-O-isopropylidene protection

An α-selective glycosidation reaction of d-tagatofuranose was successfully achieved using 3,4-O-isopropylidene-protected d-tagatofuranose as a glycosyl donor. A variety of glycosyl acceptors, including primary, secondary, and β-amino alcohols, and carbohydrates, can be used for this d-tagatofuranosidation reaction with complete α-selectivities and good yields (57–83%). The stereochemistries at the anomeric positions were determined by nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopic correlations, as well as comparison of the chemical shifts in the ¹³C NMR spectra.     

pH and molar ratio dependent formation of monomeric,dimeric and tetrameric cobalt malate complexes

The reactions of cobalt(II) chloride with racemic malic acid (H₃mal = C₄H₆O₅) result in the isolation of monomeric, dimeric and tetrameric cobalt malato complexes: (NH₄)₂[Co(R-Hmal)(S-Hmal)] · 2H₂O (1), [Co₂(R-Hmal)(S-Hmal)(H₂O)₄]_n · 2nH₂O (2), K₄[Co₄(OH)₂(R-mal)₂(S-mal)₂(H₂O)₄] · 10H₂O (3) and trans-[Co(R-H₂mal)(S-H₂mal)(H₂O)₂] · 2H₂O (4). The formations of the malato complexes are dependent on the pH value, the molar ratio of the solutions, the reaction temperature and the counterions. In the water-soluble compound 1, the Co^II ion is octahedrally coordinated by two tridentate malates via their α-hydroxy, α-carboxy and β-carboxy groups. The malate ligands in 2 coordinate with the cobalt ion via their α-hydroxy and α-carboxy groups, while the β-carboxy group acts as a bridging ligand for the other two cobalt ions, forming a novel dimeric unit [Co₂(R-Hmal)(S-Hmal)(H₂O)₄], which further connects into a layered structure through links from the oxygen atoms of the β-carboxy groups. Complex 3 is a tetranuclear mixed-valence species. Both of the Co^II ions exist in trans-[Co(R-mal)(S-mal)(H₂O)₂] units, which are linked by a Co^III₂(OH)₂ unit with bridging α-alkoxy and β-carboxy groups. Compound 4 is the main product of reaction between cobalt chloride and excess malate under weakly acidic conditions.     

Acetonitrile-dependent oxyphosphorylation: A mild one-pot synthesis of β-ketophosphonates from alkenyl acids or alkenes

An efficient one-pot synthesis of β-ketophosphonates has been developed, via the reaction of α,β-alkenyl carboxylic acids or alkenes with H-phosphonates and air oxygen, catalyzed by CuSO₄·5H₂O in CH₃CN. CH₃CN plays a decisive role, probably by forming an active oxygen complex [(MeCN)_nCu^II-O-O·].     

A facile one-pot synthesis of Nα-Z/Boc-protected S-linked 1,3,4-oxadiazole tethered peptidomimetics

A new class of S-linked 1,3,4-oxadiazole-tethered N^α-protected peptidomimetics is designed and synthesized by a reaction of N^α-Z/Boc-protected 1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-thiol with α-bromo ester derived from amino acid. The protocol has also been employed for the synthesis of glycosylated amino acids and N,N′-orthogonally protected dipeptidomimetics bearing S-linked 1,3,4-oxadiazole mimetics as well. The intermediate 5-alkyl amino-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-thiols have been isolated as stable compounds. Further, the chain extension at both N- and C-termini of N-protected S-linked 1,3,4-oxadiazole tethered dipeptidomimetics was also demonstrated.     

A simple and practical approach to enantiomerically pure (S)-3-hydroxy-γ-butyrolactone: synthesis of (R)-4-cyano-3-hydroxybutyric acid ethyl ester

The oxidation of α- or β-(1,4) linked disaccharides or oligosaccharides with cumene hydroperoxide in the presence of a base gave (S)-3,4-dihydroxybutyric acid, which was cyclized under acidic conditions to furnish (S)-3-hydroxy-γ-butyrolactone. This was subsequently converted into (R)-cyano-3-hydroxybutyric acid ethyl ester, an intermediate for statin based drugs and other related compounds.     

Regioselective α(2→3)-Sialylation of LeX and Lea by Sialidase-Catalyzed Transglycosylation

Considerable effort has been devoted to the development of new methods for α-selective sialylation due to the growing importance of the synthetic sialoglycoconjugates in glycobiology³. The synthesis of α-sialoside has been establised by chemical routes,⁴ which often involve many steps and are complicated. The promising chemoenzymatic procedure through the use of sialyltransferases has already become a preparative technique.⁵ However, laborious isolation and the pronounced acceptor specificity of the transferases limit their synthetic potential. Recently, a novel procedure for α-sialylation has been reported, which uses sialosides of synthetic substrate as donors and is catalyzed by sialidase in place of sialyltransferase. Thiem et a1.⁶ have reported the enzymatic synthesis of α(2→6)-linked sialyl galactose, glucose, lactose and lactosamine in preference to the corresponding α(2→3)-linked derivatives employing sialidase from vibrio cholerae, while Ajisaka et al.⁷ have synthesized α(2→3)-linked sialyl lactose and lactosamine with sialidase from new castle disease virus.

     

A 3,4‐trans‐Fused Cyclic Protecting Group Facilitates α‐Selective Catalytic Synthesis of 2‐Deoxyglycosides

A practical approach has been developed to convert glucals and rhamnals into disaccharides or glycoconjugates with high α‐selectivity and yields (77–97 %) using a trans‐fused cyclic 3,4‐O‐disiloxane protecting group and TsOH?H₂O (1 mol %) as a catalyst. Control of the anomeric selectivity arises from conformational locking of the intermediate oxacarbenium cation. Glucals outperform rhamnals because the C6 side‐chain conformation augments the selectivity.     

Synthesis of non-natural glycosylamino acids containing tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens

The synthesis of biologically relevant glycosylamino acids using a non-natural amino acid as the glycosyl acceptor is described. The glycosylation reaction of a monosaccharide tri-chloroacetimidate donor with Fmoc-l-hydroxynorleucine benzyl ester provided the α-O-linked product. Conversely, when the glycosylation reaction was carried out with a glycal epoxide donor, the β-O-linked product predominated. We have used these two complementary glycosylation reactions to synthesize five different glycosylamino acids, each containing the Tn, TF, STn, Lewis^y or Globo-H tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens.     

Synthesis of 4,8-anhydro-d-glycero-d-ido-nonanitol 1,6,7-trisphosphate as a novel IP3 receptor ligand using a stereoselective radical cyclization reaction based on a conformational restriction strategy

4,8-Anhydro-d-glycero-d-ido-nonanitol 1,6,7-trisphosphate (9), designed as a novel IP₃ receptor ligand having an α-C-glycosidic structure, was synthesized via a radical cyclization reaction with a temporary connecting allylsilyl group as the key-step. Phenyl 2-O-allyldimethylsilyl-3,4-bis-O-TBS-1-seleno-β-d-glucopyranoside (10a), conformationally restricted in the unusual ¹C₄-conformation, was treated with Bu₃SnH/AIBN to form the desired α-cyclization product 16a almost quantitatively. On the other hand, when a conformationally unrestricted O-benzyl-protected 2-O-allyldimethylsilyl -1-selenoglucoside 15 was used as the substrate, the radical reaction was not stereoselective and gave a mixture of the α-and β-products. From 16a, the target C-glucoside trisphosphate 9 was synthesized via phosphorylation of the hydroxyls by the phosphoramidite method. During the synthetic study, an efficient procedure for the oxidative C-Si bond cleavage, via a nucleophilic substitution at the silicon with p-MeOPhLi followed by Fleming oxidation, was developed. The C-glycoside 9 was found to be a full agonist for Ca²⁺ mobilization, although its activity was weaker than that of the natural ligand IP₃. Thus, the α-C-glucosidic structure was shown to be a useful mimic of the myo-inositol backbone of IP₃.     

Stereoselective aldol coupling of α,β-acetylenic ketones promoted by MgI2

A highly stereoselective synthesis of (Z)-β-iodovinyl ketone has been achieved with the tandem formation of CC and CI bonds in a three-component reaction. This new catalysis utilizes MgI₂ as a Lewis acid as well as an iodine source for a Michael-type addition. α,β-Acetylenic ketone is initially converted to an active β-iodo allenolate intermediate and then can be attacked by a variety of aldehydes to afford Z-selective Baylis-Hillman adducts in excellent yields.     

Design,synthesis and structural analysis of mixed α/β-peptides that adopt stable cyclic hairpin-like conformations

The strategic replacement of four α-amino acid residues of a cyclo-(ααααα)₂ peptide by β-, β²- or β³-amino acids residues provided a series of novel 2:1 α/β-mixed peptides that were designed to adopt cyclic hairpin-like structures. It was shown that conformationally stable cyclo-(αβαβα)₂ isomers can be obtained using both enantiomers of the central two basic α-amino acid residues, a known α-amino acid turn sequence and several combinations of facing β-amino acid residues with no side chain or a hydrophobic side chain having specific regio- and stereochemistry. The X-ray analysis of two derivatives provides molecular details of the intra-molecular hydrogen bonding interaction, dihedral angles of the backbone and side chain positioning of the novel cyclic hairpin-like structures. One of these isomers forms an unprecedented hexagon-shaped nano-channel assembly in the crystal structure. Well-defined cyclic hairpin-like structures as described here and derivatives that can be readily designed based on this research can be used as scaffolds onto which functional groups can be grafted in a spatially controlled manner and as β-hairpin mimics with specific biological properties.     

Synthesis of tryptophan N-glucoside

The naturally occurring l-tryptophan N-glucoside was synthesized using 2-O-pivaloylated glucosyl trichloroacetimidate, which gave β-N^In-glucosides. From 2-O-acetylated donors only tryptophan-1-yl-ethylidene compounds (amide acetals) were obtained. The employment of α-azido l-tryptophan benzyl ester facilitated purification and deprotection and improved the yields of the glycosylation step.     

Synthesis of chiral β2-amino acids by asymmetric hydrogenation

The synthesis of chiral β²-amino acids by homogeneous asymmetric hydrogenation is discussed. Prochiral β-aryl- or β-hetaryl-α-N-benzyl/N-acetyl/N-Boc substituted α-aminomethylacrylates used as substrates were prepared by a Baylis–Hillman reaction, followed by acylation and amination. For the asymmetric hydrogenation, a large variety of chiral, preferentially rhodium catalysts bearing commercially available phosphorus ligands were tested. Conversions and enantioselectivities were dependent on the reaction conditions and varied strongly between the substrates used. A chiral N-α-phenylethyl group supports the stereoface discriminating ability of the chiral catalysts and thus a matching pair effect could be realized. In strong contrast, a chiral ester group has almost no effect in this respect. In some cases the use of the corresponding substrate acid was better in comparison to the use of its ester. After optimization of the hydrogenation conditions (chiral catalyst, H₂-pressure, temperature, solvent), full conversions and products with up to 99% ee were achieved.     

Amphiphilic dipyrrinones: methoxylated [6]-semirubins

Replacing the typical β-alkyl substituents of [6]-semirubin and [6]-oxosemirubin, two intramolecularly hydrogen-bonded bilirubin analogs, with methoxy groups produces amphiphilic dipyrrinones. Synthesized from the respective 9H-dipyrrinones prepared by base-catalyzed condensation of 3,4-dimethoxypyrrolin-2-one with the appropriate pyrrole α-aldehyde, the 2,3-dimethoxy and 2,3,7,8-tetramethoxy analogs of [6]-semirubin are yellow-colored dipyrrinones that form intramolecularly hydrogen-bonded monomers in CDCl₃, as deduced from ¹H NMR NH chemical shifts. They are monomeric in CHCl₃, as determined by vapor pressure osmometry. In contrast, in the solid, X-ray crystallography reveals supramolecular ribbons of intermolecularly hydrogen-bonded (dipyrrinone to dipyrrinone and acid to acid) 2,3,7,8-tetramethoxy-[6]-semirubin. The latter is approximately 20 times more soluble in water than the parent [6]-semirubin with four β-methyl groups.     

Glycosylidene Carbenes. Part 19. Regioselective glycosidation of allyl 2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-D-allopyranosides

The regio- and stereoselectivity of the glycosidation of the partially protected mono-alcohols 3 and 7 , the diols 2 and 8 , and the triol 4 by the diazirine 1 have been investigated. Glycosidation of the α-D -diol 2 (Scheme 2) gave regioselectively the 1,3-linked disaccharides 11 and 12 (80%, α-D /β-D 9:1), whereas the analogous reaction with the βD -anomer 8 led to a mixture of the anomeric 1,3- and 1,4-linked disaccharides 13 (12.5%), 14 (16%), 15 (13%), and 16 (20.5%; Table 2). Protonation of the carbene by OH–C(4) of 2 is evidenced by the observation that the α-D -mono-alcohol 3 did not react with 1 under otherwise identical conditions, and that the β-D -alcohol 7 yielded predominantly the β-D -glucoside 18 (52%) besides 14% of 17 . Similarly as for the glycosidation of the diol 2 , the influence of the H-bond of HO? C(4) on the direction of approach of the carbene, the role of HO? C(4) in protonating the carbene, and the stereoelectronic control in the interception of the ensuring oxycarbenium cation are evidenced by the reaction of the triol 4 with 1 (Scheme 3), leading mostly to the α-D -configurated 1,3-linked disaccharide 19 (41%), besides its anomer 20 (16%), and some 4-substituted β-D -glucoside 21 (9%). No 1,6-linked disaccharides could be detected. In agreement with the observed reactivity, the ¹H-NMR and IR spectra reveal a strong H-bond between HO? C(3) and the phthalimido group in the α-D -, but not in the β-D -allosides. The different H-bonds in the anomeric phthalimides are in keeping with the results of molecular-mechanics calculations.     

Systemes de strecker et apparentes—II : Mécanisme de formation en solution aqueuse des α-alcoylaminoisobutyronitrile à partir d'acétone,d'acide cyanhydrique et d'ammoniaque,methyl ou diméthylamine

The formation of N-substituted tertiary α-aminosobutyronitriles from acetone, alkali, cyanide amine, has been studied in aqueous solutions of pH 8–12. Competition between the cyanide and amine for acetone first favours cyanohydrin formation. The α-aminonitrile is then slowly formed. The kinetic study of the reaction, as a function of cyanide concentration, shows two successive slow steps. In the presence of excess cyanide, the first step, limiting the reaction rate, is formation of intermediate imine. This is catalysed neither by OH^? or H₃O⁺ and depends only on the concentration of amine in basic form. The mechanism of the second step, the imine forming the α-aminonitrile, is discussed in terms of acid catalysed addition of the cyanide ion to the imine.     

Trading N and O. Part 2: Exploiting aziridinium intermediates for the synthesis of β-hydroxy-α-amino acids

The β-hydroxy-α-amino acids (S,S)-allo-threonine, (S,S)-β-hydroxyleucine and a range of aryl substituted (S,S)-β-hydroxyphenylalanines were prepared from the corresponding enantiopure anti-α-hydroxy-β-amino esters via a rearrangement protocol, which proceeds via the intermediacy of the corresponding aziridinium ions. The starting anti-α-hydroxy-β-amino esters were prepared in >99:1 dr using our diastereoselective aminohydroxylation procedure, whereby conjugate addition of lithium (R)-N-benzyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide to an α,β-unsaturated ester is followed by oxidation of the resultant enolate with (−)-camphorsulfonyloxaziridine. Subsequent activation of the hydroxyl group within the anti-α-hydroxy-β-amino esters promoted aziridinium ion formation [which proceeds with inversion of configuration at C(2)], and regioselective ring-opening of the intermediate aziridinium ions with H₂O [which proceeds with inversion of configuration at C(3)] gave the corresponding anti-β-hydroxy-α-amino esters as single diastereoisomers (>99:1 dr). Deprotection of these substrates via sequential hydrogenolysis and ester hydrolysis gave the corresponding β-hydroxy-α-amino acids in good yield and high diastereoisomeric and enantiomeric purity.     

Formation and fragmentation of gas-phase ion-molecule complexes of transition-metal ions with organic molecules containing two functional groups

A mass spectrometer fast atom bombardment source has been used to synthesize, in the gas phase, the ion-molecule complexes of transition-metal ions (Ni⁺, CO⁺, Fe⁺, and Mn⁺) with α- or β-unsaturated alkenenitriles, RCH=CHCN (R=H, CH₃, and C₂H₅) and CH₃CH=CHCH₂CN, and 2-methyl glutaronitrile. The metastable ion fragmentations of the complexes are monitored in the first held-free region by B/E linked scans. Surprisingly, an intense HCN loss via an intermediate (C _n H_2n ?2)?M⁺?(HCN) is observed for the complexes of the alkenenitriles. The metal ions significantly affect the fragmentation processes. The coexistence of both end-on and side-on coordination modes is suggested to explain the fragmentations.