A new strategy for synthesizing the steroids with side chains from steroidal sapogenins: synthesis of the aglycone of OSW-1 by using the intact skeleton of diosgenin

The protected aglycone of saponin OSW-1, a new antitumor natural product, was synthesized in 13 linear steps in 9.5% overall yield by utilizing the intact skeleton of diosgenin. This strategy demonstrated a higher efficiency than the routine synthesis of steroids with side chains.     

Synthesis of the shark repellent pavoninin-4

[reaction: see text] The first synthesis of the shark repellent pavoninin-4, 3, was achieved in 12 steps with 21% overall yield from diosgenin, 8. Key reactions involve an efficient synthesis of the C-15alpha hydroxyl steroid from a C-16beta hydroxyl steroid by an unexpected 1,2-transposition strategy, a stereospecific glycosylation of a hindered C-15alpha alcohol using glycosyl fluoride as a glycosyl donor and a highly chemoselective acetylation of the C-26 primary alcohol by catalytic transesterification.     

Synthesis of saponins using partially protected glycosyl donors

[reaction: see text] A new class of glycosyl donors having unprotected 2- and 2,4-hydroxyl groups were investigated under the standard glycosylation conditions. This approach was shown to be generally effective for the synthesis of alkyl and steroidal glycosides. A natural saponin, containing 2,4-branched oligosaccharide, was prepared in 35% overall yield in four straightforward sequential reactions by taking advantage of these partially protected donors.     

Synthesis of spirostanol saponins via gold(I)‐catalyzed glycosylation in the presence of Ga(OTf)3, In(OTf)3, or HOTf

An effective approach relying on a Lewis acid‐ or Brønsted acid‐assisted gold(I)‐catalyzed glycosylation has been reported in the synthesis of a panel of the representative natural spirostanol saponins, namely polyphyllin D ( 1 ), polyphyllin V ( 2 ), dioscin ( 3 ), formosanin C ( 4 ), and a derivative of polyphyllin D bearing a terminal azide group ( 5 ). This approach highlights the engagement of low loadings of Ph₃AuPOTf (≤ 0.5 mol%) in the presence of Ga(OTf)₃, In(OTf)₃, or HOTf (~10mol%) as a co‐catalyst, at practical reaction rates as an alternative to the conventional ~10 mol% loadings of the gold(I) catalyst in the glycosylation. Polyphyllin D ( 1 ) was obtained in 41% overall yield over six steps compared to the maximum 30% yield in previous syntheses where conventional donors and promoters were used. By exploiting a regioselective rhamnosylation, a “one‐pot” approach was adopted to assemble 1 and 5 , thus further strengthening the efficiency of the gold(I)‐catalyzed glycosylation.     

Efficient synthesis of kaempferol 3,7-O-bisglycosides via successive glycosylation with glycosyl ortho-alkynylbenzoates and trifluoroacetimidates

Selective glycosylation of the 3-OH of 5,4′-di-O-acetyl-kaempferol was achieved with glycosyl ortho-alkynylbenzoates as donors under the catalysis of Ph₃PAuNTf₂, and subsequent glycosylation of the remaining 7-OH with glycosyl trifluoroacetimidates under the catalysis of BF₃·OEt₂, after global deprotection, afforded the kaempferol 3,7-O-bisglycosides conveniently.     

Solid-Phase Supported Synthesis of the Branched Pentasaccharide Moiety That Occurs in Most Complex Type N-Glycan Chains

Repetitive glycosylation on a sulfanylalkyl-functionalized Merrifield resin leads to the branched, complex pentasaccharide 1 in 20% overall yield in ten steps when appropriately protected O-glycosyl trichloroacetimidates are used as glycosyl donors. A decisive factor here was the tuning of the reaction conditions for the solid-phase glycosylation and the conditions for selective removal of the protecting groups and for cleavage of the samples from the resin for characterization. The subsequent cleavage of the product was achieved with a thiophilic reagent that does not attack the O-glycosidic linkages.     

Total synthesis of the antiallergic naphtho-alpha-pyrone tetraglucoside,cassiaside C(2), isolated from cassia seeds

Toralactone 9-O-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-d-glucopyranoside (1, cassiaside C(2)), isolated from Cassia obtusifolia L. and showing strong antiallergic activity, was concisely synthesized employing glycosyl trifluoroacetimidates as glycosylation agents. The unique naphtho-alpha-pyrone structure of toralactone (5) was constructed by condensation of orsellinate 8 with pyrone 9 in the presence of LDA as developed by Staunton and co-workers. The naphthol of toralactone showed minimal reactivity as an acceptor and was screened with various glycosyl donors. It is finally concluded that sacrifice of an excess amount of the trifluoroacetimidate or trichloroacetimidate donors (6f/6g, 6.0 equiv) in the presence of a catalytic amount of TMSOTf (0.05 and 0.3 equiv, respectively) afforded excellent yields of the coupling product, which was otherwise only a minor product under a variety of conditions examined.     

Stereoselective tris-glycosylation to introduce beta-(1-->3)-branches into gentiotetraose for the concise synthesis of phytoalexin-elicitor heptaglucoside

Dodecyl thioglycosides (3, 4, 5) were prepared by conventional transformation of d-glucose and used as new glycosyl donors for a short-step synthesis of phytoalexin elicitor heptaglucoside. A gentio-tetraoside derivative (6) having three hydroxyl groups was synthesized by NIS-TfOH promoted glycosylate in more than 90% yield followed by selective removal of temporary protective groups. Undesired formation of alpha-glycosides at the introduction of beta-(1-->3)-branches into gentio-oligosaccharides was found to be suppressed by use of a thiophilic reagent system, BSP (1-benzenesulfinyl piperidine)-Tf2O, giving the heptaglucoside in only four glycosylation steps.     

Facile synthesis of saponins containing 2,3-branched oligosaccharides by using partially protected glycosyl donors

Two natural saponins 1 and 2, isolated from Solanum indicum L., and containing 2,3-branched sugar moieties, have been efficiently synthesized. Partially protected monosaccharide and disaccharide donors were used to facilitate target synthesis. Stereo factors were critical in incorporating 2,3-branched sugars on steroid aglycones. Saponin 1 was synthesized in five steps and 30% overall yield, while saponin 2 was obtained using six straightforward sequential reactions in 31% overall yield. Saponin 2 shows promising cytotoxic activity toward human hepatocellular carcinoma BEL-7402 with an IC50 of <6 microg/mL.     

Facile synthesis of flavonoid 7-O-glycosides

Highly regioselective removal of the 7-O-acyl groups of the peracylated flavones, isoflavones, and flavonols (PhSH, imidazole, NMP) followed by effective glycosylation with glycosyl trifluoroacetimidates (BF(3).Et(2)O) and cautious deprotection of the acyl groups under basic conditions afforded the desired 7-O-flavonoid glycosides in satisfactory yields.     

Total synthesis of quercetin 3-sophorotrioside

5,7-dihydroxy-3-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one (quercetin 3-sophorotrioside), a flavonol triglycoside, isolated from Pisum sativum shoots and showing protective effects on liver injury induced by chemicals, was synthesized for the first time. The target compound was successfully synthesized in eight linear steps and in 39% overall yield through a combination of phase-transfer-catalyzed (PTC) quercetin C-3 glycosylation and silver triflate (AgOTf) promoted carbohydrate chain elongation using both sugar bromide and trichloroacetimidate donors.     

First O-glycosylation of hydroxamic acids

The first O-glycosylation of hydroxamic acids is reported. This process involves the use of glycosyl N-phenyl trifluoroacetimidates as glycosyl donors in the presence TMSOTf and 4 A molecular sieves in dichloromethane. Under such conditions, a wide range of new glycosyl donors including glucosyl, galactosyl, mannosyl, glucuronyl, and ribosyl hydroxamates were prepared in good to high yields. This procedure appears to be an advantageous alternative for the synthesis of glycosyl hydroxamates of biological interest.     

Concise synthesis of two natural steroidal glycosides isolated from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Allium schoenoprasum</Emphasis>

Two natural steroidal glycosides, diosgenin 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)]-β-d-glucopyranoside (1) and laxogenin 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)]-β-d-glucopyranoside (2) with important cytotoxic activity against the HCT 116 and HT-29 human colon cancer cell lines have been efficiently synthesized via straightforward sequential glycosylation reaction with the combined use of N-phenyltrifluoroacetimidates and trichloroacetimidates donors at room temperature. All structures of the synthesized new compounds were identified by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and HRMS spectra.     

From solution phase to "on-column" chemistry: trichloroacetimidate-based glycosylation promoted by perchloric acid-silica

[reaction: see text] Activation of ester-protected glycosyl trichloroacetimidate donors by perchloric acid immobilized on silica afforded 1,2-trans disaccharides in 60-90% yields. Applying this approach to one-pot sequential glycosylation resulted in efficient syntheses of the N-linked glycan trimannoside and Le(X) and Le(A) trisaccharides in very good yield (76%, 62%, and 59% yields, respectively). Solution phase reactions were also translated to a solid phase format; priming the top of a standard silica chromatography column with perchloric acid immobilized on silica facilitated "on-column" glycosylation with subsequent "in situ" purification of products. Coupling yields from this approach were comparable to those obtained from the corresponding solution-phase disaccharide couplings. A series of glycosylated amino acids were also synthesized in high yield with use of the on-column approach.     

Selective protection of 2-azido-lactose and in situ Ferrier rearrangement during glycosylation: synthesis of a dimeric Lewis X fragment

In our efforts to design new anti-cancer vaccines based on the tumor associated carbohydrate antigen dimeric Lex, we have synthesized the fragment GlcNAc-beta-(1-->3)-Gal-beta-(1-->4)-GlcNAc-beta-(1-->O)-Me. Although it is notoriously difficult to chemically protect the primary OH groups in beta-lactoside derivatives, a 6,6'-disilylated intermediate was prepared in 82% yield. It was converted to a glycosyl acceptor free at O-3' that was glycosylated with a 2-deoxy-2-phthalimido trichloroacetimidate glucosyl donor. This glycosylation required large amounts of TMSOTf to proceed. Such conditions led to the formation of a Ferrier rearrangement glycosylation product. Despite these hurdles, the desired trisaccharide was isolated in 53% yield and easily deprotected in four steps.     

Synthesis of α-galactosyl ceramide and the related glycolipids for evaluation of their activities on mouse splenocytes

Phytosphingosine and its short-chain analog were efficiently synthesized with 19% overall yield in 10 steps, respectively, starting from an inexpensive d-lyxose. Galactosyl donors of sulfide and phosphite types bearing benzoyl protecting groups of 4- and 6-OH underwent glycosylation in excellent α-anomeric selectivity. A variety of α-galactosyl, fucosyl and glucosyl ceramides and serine-type lipids were prepared, and their activities involved in the proliferation of mouse splenocytes and the expression of cytokines were elucidated. Besides α-galactosyl ceramides, a galactosyl serine-type lipid also exhibited substantial effect on the expression of cytokines IFN-γ and IL-4.     

Total synthesis of methyl protodioscin: a potent agent with antitumor activity

Methyl protodioscin (1), otherwise known as 3-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->4)]-beta-d-glucopyranosyl]-26-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-22-methoxy-25(R)-furost-5-ene-3 beta,26-diol, has been synthesized for the first time from diosgenin through nine steps in an overall yield of 7.8%.     

Armed-disarmed effect of remote protecting groups on the glycosylation reaction of 2,3-dideoxyglycosyl donors

The armed-disarmed effect of remote protecting groups at the C-4 and/or C-6 position(s) on the glycosylation reactions of 2,3-dideoxyglycosyl donors was investigated. It was found that under various glycosylation conditions, 4- or 6-O-Bn 2,3-dideoxyglycosyl donors were much more reactive than the corresponding 4,6-di-O-Bz 2,3-dideoxyglycosyl donors. Based on these results, an effective and chemoselective glycosylation reaction using 4,6-di-O-Bn glycosyl acetate and 4-OH-6-O-Bz glycosyl acetate was realized, producing a 2,3-dideoxydisaccharide in good yield with high α-stereoselectivity.     

利用薯蓣皂甙元完整骨架合成澳洲茄胺

澳洲茄胺1是中药龙葵生物活性成分澳洲茄碱和澳洲茄边碱的甙元, 具有抗肿瘤等生物活性. 利用薯蓣皂甙元的完整骨架, 以16-羟基甾体皂甙元的溴代开环反应为关键反应, 经9步反应, 以21%的总收率完成了澳洲茄胺1的合成.     

Oligosaccharide synthesis with glycosyl phosphate and dithiophosphate triesters as glycosylating agents

Described is an efficient one-pot synthesis of alpha- and beta-glycosyl phosphate and dithiophosphate triesters from glycals via 1,2-anhydrosugars. Glycosyl phosphates function as versatile glycosylating agents for the synthesis of beta-glucosidic, beta-galactosidic, alpha-fucosidic, alpha-mannosidic, beta-glucuronic acid, and beta-glucosamine linkages upon activation with trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (TMSOTf). In addition to serving as efficient donors for O-glycosylations, glycosyl phosphates are effective in the preparation of S-glycosides and C-glycosides. Furthermore, the acid-catalyzed coupling of glycosyl phosphates with silylated acceptors is also discussed. Glycosyl dithiophosphates are synthesized and are also used as glycosyl donors. This alternate method offers compatibility with acceptors containing glycals to form beta-glycosides. To minimize protecting group manipulations, orthogonal and regioselective glycosylation strategies with glycosyl phosphates are reported. An orthogonal glycosylation method involving the activation of a glycosyl phosphate donor in the presence of a thioglycoside acceptor is described, as is an acceptor-mediated regioselective glycosylation strategy. Additionally, a unique glycosylation strategy exploiting the difference in reactivity of alpha- and beta-glycosyl phosphates is disclosed. The procedures outlined here provide the basis for the assembly of complex oligosaccharides in solution and by automated solid-phase synthesis with glycosyl phosphate building blocks exclusively or in concert with other donors.