First synthesis of 5,6-branched galacto-hexasaccharide,the dimer of the trisaccharide repeating unit of the cell-wall galactans of Bifidobacterium catenulatum YIT 4016

α-d-Galactopyranosyl-(1→6)-[β-d-galactofuranosyl-(1→5)]-β-d-galactofuranosyl-(1→6)-β-d-galactofuranosyl-(1→5)-[α-d-galactopyranosyl-(1→6)]-β-d-galactofuranose, the dimer of the trisaccharide repeating unit of the cell-wall galactans of Bifidobacterium catenulatum YIT 4016, has been synthesized as its dodecyl glycoside 2 by coupling of 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-α-d-galactopyranosyl-(1→6)-[6-O-acetyl-2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-β-d-galactofuranosyl-(1→5)]-2-O-acetyl-3-O-benzyl-β-d-galactofuranosyl trichloroacetimidate 14 with dodecyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-α-d-galactopyranosyl-(1→6)-[2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-β-d-galactofuranosyl-(1→5)]-2-O-acetyl-3-O-benzyl-β-d-galactofuranoside 16. The trisaccharide trichloroacetimidate donor 14 and trisaccharide acceptor 16 were regiospecifically prepared by employing 3-O-benzyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-d-galactofuranose 4 as the glycosyl acceptor, and isopropyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-1-thio-β-d-galactopyranoside 5 and 6-O-acetyl-2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-β-d-galactofuranosyl trichloroacetimidate 9 as glycosyl donors.     

Synthesis of tetra- and hexasaccharide fragments corresponding to the O-antigenic polysaccharide of Klebsiella pneumoniae

The preparation of linear tetra- (1) and hexasaccharides (2), containing the repeating unit [→3)-β-Galf-(1→3)-α-Galp-(1→] present in the O-polysaccharide of the lipopolysaccharide of Klebsiella pneumoniae is described. The key step in their synthesis is the α-selective galactopyranosylation of 3-OH di- and tetrasaccharide acceptors (20 and 22) with a disaccharide trichloroacetimidate donor 19 in the presence of trimethylsilyl triflate in a diethyl ether–CH₂Cl₂ mixture as solvent.     

Synthesis of a tetrasaccharide repeating unit of O-antigenic polysaccharide of Salmonella enteritidis by use of unique and odorless dodecyl thioglycosyl donors

The first total synthesis of a unique tetrasaccharide repeating unit of lipopolysaccharide from Salmonella enteritidis has been accomplished by assembly of dodecyl thioglycosides. The crucial key steps were preparation of a rare branched dideoxy sugar, d-tyvelose (3,6-dideoxy-d-arabino-d-hexose) and sequential regioselective glycosylation at 2,3-positions of a central d-mannose residue 5 with d-tyvelose 6 and d-galactose donors 7.     

Concise synthesis of a pentasaccharide repeating unit corresponding to the O-antigen of Escherichia coli O102

An efficient synthetic strategy has been developed for the synthesis of a pentasaccharide repeating unit of the O-antigen of Escherichia coli O102 strain. The target pentasaccharide 1 has been synthesized using a [2+3] block glycosylation strategy. All glycosylation steps are highly stereoselective and high yielding. Concept of armed-disarmed and orthogonal glycosylation strategies has been applied during the synthesis. The target compound has been synthesized using the minimum number of steps.     

Synthesis of the pentasaccharide repeating unit of the O-specific polysaccharide from salmonella strasbourg

The pentasaccharide α - Tyv - (1→3) - β - d - Man - (1→4) - α - l - Rha - (1→3) - d - Gal - (4←1) -α - d - Glc 1, the repeating unit of the O-specific polysaccharide chain of the lipopolysaccharide from S. Strasbourg, was obtained by glycosylation of benzyl - 2,6 - di - O - benzyl - 4 - O - (2,3,4 - tri - O - benzyl - 6 - O - benzoyl - α - d - glucopyranosyl) - β - d - galactopyranoside with 1,2 - methylorthoacetyl - 3 - O - acetyl - 4- O - [3 - O - (2,4 - di - O - acetyl - 3, 6 - dideoxy,- α - d - arabino - hexopyranosyl) - 2,4,6 - tri - O - acetyl - β - d - mannopyranosyl] - β - l - rhamnopyranose 3 followed by removal of protecting groups. The structure of the synthetic pentasaccharide was proved by methylation analysis and ¹³C NMR.     

Synthetic routes toward pentasaccharide repeating unit corresponding to the O-antigen of Escherichia coli O181

An efficient synthetic strategy has been developed for the synthesis of the pentasaccharide repeating unit corresponding to the O-antigen of Escherichia coli O181. A one-pot, two step iterative glycosylation and [2?+?3] block glycosylation strategy have been adopted for the construction of the pentasaccharide derivative 2, which was then transformed into target compound 1 after a series of functional group transformations. Here H₂SO₄-silica has been used successfully as a promoter for all glycosylation reaction. The stereoselective outcomes of all glycosylation reactions were very good. The 2-acetamido-2,6-dideoxy-l-glucose (l-QuipNAc) building block was obtained from known carbohydrate l-rhamnose precursors.     

Convergent synthesis of the tetrasaccharide repeating unit related to the O-antigenic polysaccharide of Escherichia coli 78

A convergent synthesis of the tetrasaccharide repeating unit of the O-antigenic cell wall polysaccharide of Escherichia coli 78, as the corresponding methyl glycoside (I), is being reported. It involved stereoselective glycosidation of a β-linked mannodisaccharide acceptor with a β-linked glucosamine based disaccharide thioglycoside donor, which were prepared from the corresponding functionalised monosaccharide based glycosyl donors and acceptors. The resulting tetrasaccharide derivative was finally converted to (I) by selective deprotection and also by global protection and deprotection techniques.     

The absolute stereochemistry of anachelins, siderophores from the cyanobacterium Anabaena cylindrica

The absolute stereochemistry of anachelins (1 and 2), siderophores isolated from the freshwater cyanobacterium Anabaena cylindrica, was determined via the application of Boc-phenylglycine and Mosher's method. Consequently, it was revealed that a 1,1-dimethyl-3-amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-6,7-dihydroxyquinolinium unit (Dmaq) has 3S (eq.) configuration, and a 6-amino-3,5,7-trihydroxyheptanoic acid unit (Atha) has 3R, 5S, 6S configuration. The 6S configuration of Atha suggested that l-Ser was a biosynthetic precursor of Atha.     

Donor-acceptor interaction-mediated arrangement of hydrogen bonded dimers

The donor-acceptor interaction-driven supramolecular arrangement of a new series of quadruply hydrogen-bonded homo- and heterodimers have been investigated in chloroform with ¹H NMR and UV-Vis spectroscopy. Two kinds of structurally complementary monomers have been prepared. Monomers 3 and 4 are incorporated with one ureidopyrimidone unit and one electron deficient pyromellitic diimide (PDI) or naphthalene diimide (NDI) unit, respectively, monomers 5 and 6 are incorporated with two ureidopyrimidone units and one PDI or NDI unit, respectively, whereas monomers 7 and 8 consist of one electron rich bis-p-phenylene[34]crown-10 unit and one or two 2,7-diamido-1,6-naphthyridine units, respectively. Compounds 3 and 4 exist exclusively as homodimers, respectively. Adding 1 equiv. of 7 to the solution of 3·3 and 4·4 induced them to partially or fully dissociate to produce heterodimers 3·7 and 4·7 due to intermolecular donor-acceptor interaction and the formation of a new binding mode between the ureidopyrimidone of 3 or 4 and the 2,7-diamido-1,6-naphthyridine unit of 7. Both 5 and 6 exist as cyclic monomer and dimer in chloroform. Adding 1 equiv. of 8 to the solution of 5 or 6 in chloroform caused all the cyclic dimer and most of the cyclic monomer to de-cyclize to form new heterodimers 5·8 and 6·8, respectively. ¹H NMR and UV-vis study revealed that heterodimer 5·8 has a structure in which the PDI of 5 is not threaded through the cavity of the bis-p-phenylene[34]crown-10 unit of 8. In contrast, in addition to the heterodimer similar to 5·8, about 40% of heterodimer 6·8 is generated, in which the PDI of 6 is threaded through the cavity of the bis-p-phenylene[3]crown-10 unit of 8 due to the increased donor-acceptor interaction between NDI and bis-p-phenylene[34]crown-10. Steric hindrance and mismatching of the hydrogen bonding moiety play important roles in the arrangement of the new homo- and heterodimers.     

Synthesis and crystal structure analysis of 2-(4-fluorobenzyl)-6-phenylimidazo[2,1-b][1,3,4]thiadiazole and its chlorophenyl derivative

Preparations of 2-(4-fluorobenzyl)-6-phenylimidazo[2,1-b][1,3,4]thiadiazole (3a) and its chlorophenyl derivative (3b) are described. Preliminary analysis was done spectroscopically by means of ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR spectra, mass spectra and elemental analyses. Further the structures were confirmed by X-ray crystal structure analyses. The compound (3a) has crystallized in a triclinic P-1 space group with three independent molecules in the asymmetric unit, while the compound (3b) belongs to P2₁/c space group with one molecule in the asymmetric unit. The molecule (3b) differs from molecule (3a) by the presence of chlorine substituent. Additionally, the imidazo-thiadiazole entity is as usual planar. Intramolecular C–H⋯N hydrogen bonding between the imidazole and the phenyl ring of the molecule can be observed in (3a) & (3b). The molecules of (3a) are linked into two dimensional supramolecular hexagonal hydrogen bonded network sustained by C–H⋯F interaction, while those of (3b) are linked by bifurcated C–H⋯N interactions. Further, the molecular packing of both the compounds is stabilized by π–π stacking interactions between the benzene and imidazo-thiadiazole ring systems.     

The biosynthesis of aureothin

Feeding experiments with specifically labelled precursors show that the nitroaromatic, C-6-C-1 unit of the antibiotic aureothin (9) biologically derives by degradation of the C-6-C-3, phenylpropanoid precursor D,L-p-aminophenylalanine (1) through hydroxylation β to the nitrogen to erythro and threop-aminophenylserine (3 and 4). During the biosynthesis there is the loss of the hydrogen originally present in benzylic position in the phenylpropanoid precursor, and, further, the oxidation of the p-amino group to p-nitro takes place very late in the sequence.     

Helix-forming self-assembly of enantiopure 2,2′-dimethylbiphenyl-6,6′-dipropiolic acid and amide organized by hydrogen bonds

Single-crystal X-ray diffraction revealed that the molecules of both the title compounds (S)-5 and (S)-6 are linked, via double hydrogen bonds, in infinite chains which follow the crystallographic symmetry of the three- and four-fold screw axis, respectively. To our knowledge this represents the first documented case when intermolecular carboxylic hydrogen bond constitutes an integral part of a helix backbone set up from repeating homochiral subunits.     

Synthesis and properties of p-benzoquinone-fused hexadehydro[18]annulenes

A series of hexadehydro[18]annulenes fused with different numbers of p-benzoquinone, 4-6, were synthesized by stepwise transformation of the p-dimethoxybenzene moiety of the precursor dehydroannulene 3 fused with three 3,6-dimethoxy-4,5-dimethylbenzene units at 1,2-positions into p-benzoquinone using ceric ammonium nitrate. The UV-vis spectra of compounds 4 and 5, which have both electron-donating p-dimethoxybenzene unit(s) and electron-accepting p-benzoquinone unit(s) in the π-systems, showed the maximum absorption bands bathochromically shifted in comparison with 3 having only p-dimethoxybenzene units and 6 having only p-benzoquinone units. However, the solvatochromism expected for 4 and 5 was found to be quite weak possibly because the HOMO and LUMO (B3LYP/6-31G(d)) are not localized but rather delocalized over the whole π-systems.     

A general method for the synthesis of oligosaccharides consisting of α-(1→2)- and α-(1→3)-linked rhamnan backbones and GlcNAc side chains

A general method has been developed for the synthesis of oligosaccharides consisting of (1→2)- and (1→3)-linked rhamnans with GlcNAc side chains. As examples, highly effective and convergent syntheses of two decasaccharides in the O polysaccharide moiety of the lipopolysaccharide of the phytopathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas syringae pv. ribicola NCPPB 1010 were achieved. The two decasaccharides consist of O polysaccharide repeating units I+II and II+I, respectively. Allyl 3-O-acetyl-4-O-benzoyl-α-l-rhamnopyranoside, allyl 2-O-benzoyl-3-O-chloroacetyl-α-l-rhamnopyranoside, 2,4-di-O-benzoyl-3-O-chloroacetyl-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate, and 3-O-acetyl-2,4-di-O-benzoyl-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate, which were obtained by highly regioselective 3-O-acylations, were used as the key synthons to obtain the required α-(1→2)- and α-(1→3)-linked rhamnoocta saccharide acceptors with 3³- and 3⁷-free hydroxyl groups. Therefore, several disaccharides were synthesized, from which tetrasaccharides and hexasaccharides were then synthesized. Coupling of the hexasaccharide donors with the disaccharide acceptors gave the octasaccharide acceptors. Finally, the coupling of 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-β-d-glucopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate with the octasaccharide acceptors, followed by deprotection, afforded the two target decasaccharides. A repeating hexasaccharide unit of the cell wall polysaccharide of β-hemolytic Streptococci Group A was also synthesized in a similar way.     

(+)/(−)-Yanhusuosines A and B,two dimeric benzylisoquinoline-protoberberine alkaloid atropo-enantiomers featuring polycyclic skeletons from Corydalis yanhusuo

(+)/(−)-Yanhusuosines A (1) and B (2), two pairs of trace benzylisoquinoline-protoberberine atropo-enantiomeric homodimers featuring an unprecedented 6/7/6/6/6/6 hexacyclic skeleton, were isolated from the tubers of Corydalis yanhusuo. The structures of (+)/(−)-1 and (+)/(−)-2 were elucidated using spectroscopic and quantum-chemical calculation approaches. (+)/(−)-Yanhusuosines A (1) and B (2) represent a new class of alkaloid dimers biogenetically constructed by a molecule of benzylisoquinoline with a unit of protoberberine via an intermolecular [4 + 3] cycloaddition. Their plausible biosynthetic pathways are discussed, and compound 2 exerted moderate inhibitory activity of NO formation in LPS induced RAW264.7 macrophages.     

Modelling the use of lanthanides(III) as probes at calcium(II) binding sites in biological systems: Preparation and characterization of neodymium(III) and calcium(II) malonamato(-1) complexes

A bioinorganic approach into the problem of the isomorphous substitution of calcium(II) by lanthanide(III) ions in biological systems is discussed. Reactions of malonamic acid (H₂malm) with Ca^II and Nd^III sources under similar conditions yielded the compounds [Ca(Hmalm)₂]_n (1), [Nd(Hmalm)₂(H₂O)₂]_n(NO₃)_n (2) and [Nd(Hmalm)₂(H₂O)₂]_nCl_n·2nH₂O (3·2nH₂O). Their X-ray crystal structure data show that the malonamate(-1) ligand presents two different ligation modes and coordinates through the two carboxylate and the amide-O atoms, thus bridging three Ca^II ions in 1 and two Nd^III ions in 2 and 3·2nH₂O. Complex 1 is a 3D coordination polymer based on neutral repeating units, whereas 2 and 3·2nH₂O are 1D coordination polymers based on the same cationic repeating unit. Hydrogen bonding interactions further stabilize the 3D framework structure of 1 and assemble the 1D chains of 2 and 3·2nH₂O into 3D networks. The three complexes were characterized spectroscopically (IR, far-IR, and Raman) and the thermal decomposition of 2 and 3·2nH₂O was monitored by TG/DTA and TG/DTG measurements. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility data for 2 are also reported. The bioinorganic chemistry relevance of our results is discussed.     

Specific solvent effects on the intramolecular electron transfer reaction in a neutral ferrocene donor polychlorotriphenylmethyl acceptor radical with extended conjugation

The synthesis and the optical, magnetic and electrochemical properties of the ferrocenylbutynene substituted polychlorotriphenylmethyl radical 1 are reported. Radical 1 is prepared in a three step synthetic route starting with a Wittig reaction to yield (E,Z)-{4-[4-(bis(2,3,4,5,6-pentachlorophenyl)methyl)-2,3,5,6-tetra-chlorophenyl]but-3-en-1-ynyl}-ferrocene (1H) which is subsequently deprotonated to yield the corresponding anion K⁺(18-crown-6) [1]^? and finally oxidized to (E)-4-[4-(ferrocenyl)but-3-yn-1-enyl]-2,3,5,6-tetrachlorophenyl-bis(2,3,4,5,6-pentachlorophenyl) methyl radical (1). Radical 1 exhibits a charge-transfer band transition in the near infrared region which is associated with an intramolecular electron transfer from the ferrocene unit (donor) to the radical unit (acceptor) of this dyad molecule; its solvatochromism is studied in detail. The X-ray crystal structure of [K⁺(18-crown-6)](E)-[4-[4-(ferrocenyl)but-3-yn-1-enyl]-2,3,5,6-tetrachlorophenyl-bis(2,3,4,5,6-pentachlorophenyl) methide] [1]^? has been determined. This organic salt forms an interesting one-dimensional coordination polymer by the coordination of the K⁺ cation with chlorine atoms of the organic carbanion.     

Glucose,not cellobiose,is the repeating unit of cellulose and why that is important

Despite nomenclature conventions of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry and the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the repeating unit of cellulose is often said to be cellobiose instead of glucose. This review covers arguments regarding the repeating unit in cellulose molecules and crystals based on biosynthesis, shape, crystallographic symmetry, and linkage position. It is concluded that there is no good reason to disagree with the official nomenclature. Statements that cellobiose is the repeating unit add confusion and limit thinking on the range of possible shapes of cellulose. Other frequent flaws in drawings with cellobiose as the repeating unit include incorporation of O-1 as the linkage oxygen atom instead of O-4 (the O-1 hydroxyl is the leaving group in glycoside synthesis). Also, n often erroneously represents the number of cellobiose units when n should denote the degree of polymerization i.e., the number of glucose residues in the polysaccharide.     

Synthetic studies directed toward streptenol D: enantioselective preparation of the 3,5-diacetoxy-6E,8E-decadiene segment

The enantioselective preparation of 2-(3′R,5′R-diacetoxy-6E,8E-decadienyl)-1,3-dioxane, (+)-13, is described. This synthesis of the skeleton of streptenol D utilizes the ability of a diene-complexed (tricarbonyl)iron unit to serve as a protecting and stereodirecting functionality.     

Coordination polymers and supramolecular structures in Ag(I)triflate-dppf systems (dppf=1,1-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene)

The interaction of silver triflate (OTf⁻=SO₃(CF₃)⁻) and dppf [(C₅H₄PPh₂)₂Fe)] gave different complexes, depending on the stoichiometric proportions and reaction conditions. Under limiting dppf conditions, three different forms (1-3) of [Ag₂(OTf)₂(dppf)]_x were isolated. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses showed that the structure of 1 (x=2n) consists of a 2-D polymer comprising a tetra-silver basic unit, while that of 2 (x=2) possesses a discrete tetra-silver framework and that of 3 (x=n) is a linear polymer based on a di-silver repeating unit. The structures are supported by bridging dppf ligands and triflate groups. The crystal lattices of the compounds are stabilized by extensive intermolecular C-H?X hydrogen bonding (H=ring proton of Cp or Ph of dppf; X=O or F of OTf). [Ag(dppf)(OTf)] (4) and the structurally characterized mononuclear [Ag(dppf)₂](OTf) (5) were the sole products obtained from treatment of AgOTf with dppf in molar ratios of 1:1 and 1:2, respectively.