Linear Synthesis of The Methyl Glycosides of Tri-, Tetra-, and Pentasaccharide Fragments of The Shigella Flexneri Serotype 5A O-Antigen

ABSTRACT

The stepwise synthesis of methyl α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (EBC-OMe, 1), methyl α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)]-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (A(E)BC-OMe, 2), and methyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)]-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (DA(E)BC-OMe, 3) is described. Compounds 1, 2 and 3 constitute the methyl glycosides of fragments of the O-specific polysaccharide of Shigella flexneri serotype 5a. Methyl 2,4-di-O-benzoyl-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→3)-2,4-di-O-benzoyl-α-L-rhamnopyranoside was an appropriate BC precursor for the synthesis of 1. For the synthesis of the branched targets 2 and 3, a benzyl group was best suited at position 2 of rhamnose C. Thus, methyl 4-O-benzyl-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→3)-2,4-di-O-benzyl-α-L-rhamnopyranoside was the key intermediate to the BC portion. In all cases, 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-α-D-glucopyranosyl fluoride was a convenient E precursor, when used in combination with titanium tetrafluoride. All along, attention was paid to steric hindrance as a factor of major impact on the condensation steps outcome. Therefore, based on previous experience, 2-O-acetyl-3,4-di-O-allyl-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate and 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-2-trichloroacetamido-α-D-glucopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate were used as donors. Both suited all requirements when used as key precursors for residues A and D in the synthesis of 3, respectively.