Rapid Assembly of Oligosaccharides: Total Synthesis of a Glycosylphosphatidylinositol Anchor of Trypanosoma brucei

Six building blocks, six reaction steps : The recently developed innovative methodology facilitated the convergent synthesis of the complex oligosaccharide core 1 (shown here with protecting groups) for the total synthesis of a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor. The key factors are the tuning of the reactivity of the building blocks by using 1,2-diacetal protecting groups and the desymmetrization of glycerol and myo-inositol with a chiral bis(dihydropyran).     

A variable concept for the preparation of branched glycosyl phosphatidyl inositol anchors

A variable concept for the synthesis of branched glycosyl phosphatidyl inositol (GPI) anchors was established. Its efficiency could be shown by the successful synthesis of the GPI anchor of rat brain Thy-1 and of the scrapie prion protein both in the water soluble 1c and lipidated form 1a. Retrosynthesis led to building blocks 2-6 of which 5 could be further disconnected to building blocks 7-9. Trichloroacetimidate 5 was built up in a straightforward manner starting from glycosyl acceptor 9 using known glycosyl donors 7 and 8. The carbohydrate backbone was then assembled by glycosylation of pseudodisaccharide acceptor 6 with donor 5. To ensure high stereoselectivity and good yields in the glycosylation reactions, anchimeric assistance was employed. Successive deprotection and introduction of the various phosphate residues gave the fully protected GPI anchors. Catalytic hydrogenation and acid-catalyzed cleavage of the Boc protecting groups afforded the target molecules, which could be fully structurally assigned.     

Rapid access to 1,6-anhydro-beta-L-hexopyranose derivatives via domino reaction: synthesis of L-allose and L-glucose

An expeditious and efficient synthesis of 1,6-anhydro-beta-L-hexopyranosyl derivatives 3 as valuable building blocks for the preparation of L-sugars is herein reported. This route relies upon the use of a domino reaction involving five synthetic steps from the 5,6-dihydro-1,4-dithiin 4. As 1,6-anhydro derivatives 3 are obtained, dithioethylene bridge removal and double-bond dihydroxylation give access to protected L-allose and L-glucose in stereoselective fashion and high yields.     

Solid-phase synthesis of N-nosyl- and N-Fmoc-N-methyl-alpha-amino acids

We report here a convenient and simple solid-phase synthesis of N-nosyl-N-methyl-alpha-amino acids and N-Fmoc-N-methyl-alpha-amino acids, important building blocks for the synthesis of conformationally restricted and protease-resistant natural peptides and peptide analogues. The methodology involves the use of 2-chlorotrityl chloride resin to temporarily protect the carboxylic group of alpha-amino acids and of diazomethane as the reagent to methylate the sulfonamidic function. The approach developed is particularly efficient also with alpha-amino acids bearing appropriately protected functionalized side chains.     

Stereoselective synthesis of uridine-derived nucleosyl amino acids

Novel hybrid structures of 5'-deoxyuridine and glycine were conceived and synthesized. Such nucleosyl amino acids (NAAs) represent simplified analogues of the core structure of muraymycin nucleoside antibiotics, making them useful synthetic building blocks for structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies. The key step of the developed synthetic route was the efficient and highly diastereoselective asymmetric hydrogenation of didehydro amino acid precursors toward protected NAAs. It was anticipated that the synthesis of unprotected muraymycin derivatives via this route would require a suitable intermediate protecting group at the N-3 of the uracil base. After initial attempts using PMB- and BOM-N-3 protection, both of which resulted in problematic deprotection steps, an N-3 protecting group-free route was envisaged. In spite of the pronounced acidity of the uracil-3-NH, this route worked equally efficient and with identical stereoselectivities as the initial strategies involving N-3 protection. The obtained NAA building blocks were employed for the synthesis of truncated 5'-deoxymuraymycin analogues.     

Xanthate-mediated synthesis of functional bis(γ-thiolactones)

A new methodology for the synthesis of bis(γ-thiolactones) including two different routes was developed. Both strategies are based on xanthate-mediated synthesis involving free radical addition to an unsaturated compound followed by thermolysis and thiolactonization steps. The first approach is based on the addition of a xanthate to different dienes whereas the second one uses the addition of a bis(xanthate) to various functional alkenes. These two different pathways led to a series of bis(γ-thiolactones) bearing phosphonated, hydroxy, bromide or boronate groups. This shows great promise for broader access to functional bis(γ-thiolactones) which can be envisioned as high potential building blocks for step-growth polymerization.     

New set of orthogonal protecting groups for the modular synthesis of heparan sulfate fragments

Six strategically chosen monosaccharide building blocks, which are protected by a novel set of four orthogonal protecting groups (Lev, Fmoc, TBDPS, and All), can be employed for the efficient synthesis of the 20 disaccharide moieties found in heparan sulfate. The properly protected disaccharide building blocks can be converted into glycosyl donors and acceptors, which can be used for the modular synthesis of a wide range of well-defined oligosaccharides that differ in sulfation pattern. [structure: see text]     

A highly convergent synthesis of a complex oligosaccharide derived from group B type III Streptococcus

An efficient synthesis of a heptasaccharide derived from group B type III Streptococcus carrying an artificial spacer (1) is described. Rapid assembly of a protected heptasaccharide (16a) is accomplished from readily available building blocks 2-5 without a single protecting group manipulation between glycosylation steps. The synthetic strategy may be applied to the assembly of other branched complex oligosaccharides. The deprotected heptasaccharide 1 was coupled to a poly[N-(acryloyloxy)succinimide, and the resulting material will be used for the development of an ELISA assay to detect antibodies against GBS, type III in pregnant women.     

First total synthesis of a GPI-anchored peptide

A GPI-anchored dipeptide of sperm CD52 antigen was prepared through a convergent synthesis. First, the dipeptide with its C-terminus free and the GPI with its nonreducing end phosphoethanolamine bearing a free amino group were synthesized separately. Then, the two building blocks were coupled with use of EDC/HOBt as the condensation reagent. Finally, the GPI-anchored peptide was deprotected to give the target molecule 1.     

Synthesis of the fully phosphorylated GPI anchor pseudohexasaccharide of Toxoplasma gondii.

Retrosynthesis of the fully phosphorylated glycosylphosphatidyl inositol (GPI) anchor pseudohexasaccharide 1a led to building blocks 2-6, of which 5 and 6 are known. The formation of pseudodisaccharide building block 2 is based on readily available building block 7, which gave, via derivative 11 and its glycosylation with known donor 12, the desired compound 2. Building block 3, with the required access to all hydroxy groups being permitted, was prepared from mannose in five steps. From a readily available precursor, building block 4 was obtained, which on reaction with 3 gave disaccharide 23. The synthesis of the decisive pseudohexasaccharide intermediate 32 was based on the reaction of 23 with 5, then with 6, and finally with 2. To obtain high stereoselectivity and good yields in the glycosylation reactions, anchimeric assistance was employed. To enable regioselective attachment of the two different phosphorus esters, the 6f-O-silyl group of 32 was first removed and the aminoethyl phosphate residue was attached. Then the MPM group was oxidatively removed, and the second phosphate residue was introduced. Unprotected 1a was then liberated in two steps: treatment with sodium methanolate removed the acetyl protecting groups, and finally, catalytic hydrogenation afforded the desired target molecule, which could be fully structurally assigned.     

Synthesis of alpha-(2-->5)Neu5Gc oligomers

A facile synthesis of the sialic acid oligomers alpha-(2-->5)Neu5Gc (1) is presented. Monosaccharides 2-4 with suitable functionality were used as the building blocks. After selective removal of the paired carboxyl and amine protecting groups, the fully protected oligomers were assembled through consecutive coupling of the building blocks by well established peptide coupling techniques. By this approach, fully protected oligomers as large as an octasaccharide were synthesized. Deprotection of these fully protected oligomers was conducted in two steps (LiCl in refluxing pyridine and 0.1 n NaOH) to afford the desired products in high yield. Enzymatic degradation of the octamer with neuraminidase, monitored by capillary electrophoresis (CE), was also accomplished. The stepwise exo-cleavage adducts were all well separated and identified in the CE spectrum. The strategy described here for solution-phase synthesis also provides the basis for future solid-phase synthesis of poly-alpha-(2-->5)Neu5Gc.     

Solid-supported synthesis of cryptand-like macrobicyclic peptides

A straightforward method for the solid-supported synthesis of cryptand-like bicyclic peptides (1-5) on a backbone amide linker has been described. For the branching, two novel easily available building blocks, viz. N-(4-methoxytrityl)-N-(2-nitrobenzenesulfonyl)-protected N,N-bis(2-aminoethyl)-beta-alanine (6) and N-(9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl) protected iminodiacetic acid monoallyl ester (7), have been employed. The key steps of the synthesis are as follows: (i) stepwise coupling of one amino acid and 6 to the secondary amino group of the linker; (ii) removal of the 2-nitrobenzenesulfonyl group and SPPS by the Fmoc chemistry, using 7 as the penultimate and tert-butoxycarbonyl (Boc) protected glycine as the last amino acid; (iii) removal of the 4-methoxytrityl protection and subsequent SPPS by the Fmoc chemistry; (iv) removal of the allyl and Fmoc groups, followed by cyclization; and (v) removal of the Boc and tert-butyl groups, followed by cyclization. Final cleavage from the support and removal of benzyl-derived protecting groups gives the desired bicyclic products.     

Total synthesis of a glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor of the human lymphocyte CD52 antigen

The first total synthesis of a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor bearing a polyunsaturated arachidonoyl fatty acid is reported. This lipid is found in mammalian GPIs that do not undergo lipid remodeling, a process that has important implications in the localization and function of GPI-anchored proteins. Incorporation of the oxidation- and reduction-sensitive arachidonoyl lipid in the target GPI was accomplished by using the para-methoxybenzyl (PMB) group for permanent hydroxyl group protection, which featured a selective, rapid, and efficient global deprotection protocol. The flexibility of this synthetic strategy was further highlighted by the inclusion of two additional GPI core structural modifications present in the GPI anchor of the human lymphocyte CD52 antigen.     

Total synthesis of (+/-)-2-isocyanoallopupukeanane

2-Isocyanoallopupukeanane (4) has been obtained in racemic form from methyl 2-exo-methylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2-endo-carboxylate via dibromocarbene addition, S(N)2' displacement, chain extension, and elaboration of the unsaturated ketone 12c which underwent an intramolecular hetero-Diels-Alder reaction to afford 13 containing all the skeletal carbon atoms. The dihydropyran unit was cleaved by ozonolysis to give the tricarbocyclic intermediate which required seven more steps to complete the synthesis.     

Fluorous linker facilitated synthesis of teichoic acid fragments

The use of perfluorooctylpropylsulfonylethanol as a new phosphate protecting group and fluorous linker is evaluated in the stepwise solution phase synthesis of a number of biologically relevant (carbohydrate substituted) glycerol teichoic acid fragments. Teichoic acid fragments, up to the dodecamer level, were assembled by means of phosphoramidite chemistry, using a relatively small excess of the building blocks and a repetitive efficient purification procedure of the protected intermediates by fluorous solid phase extraction (F-SPE).     

An efficient route for the synthesis of hyperbranched polymers and dendritic building blocks based on urea linkages

A highly efficient synthetic route, based on the quantitative reaction between amine and isocyanate functionalities, was used successfully for the synthesis of hyperbranched polymers and dendritic building blocks based on urea linkages. The thermal decomposition of 3,5‐diamino benzoyl azide or 5‐amino isophthaloyl azide generated in situ the corresponding phenyl isocyanates, which were then polymerized to give wholly aromatic hyperbranched polyureas. Hyperbranched polyurea with amine chain ends was soluble in common organic solvents. The degree of branching, as calculated with ¹H NMR, was 0.55. Diethyl 5‐amino isophthalate and Boc‐protected 5‐amino isophthaloyl azide were used for the successful stepwise synthesis of dendritic wedges based on urea linkages. The thermal generation of the isocyanate functionality with gaseous nitrogen as the side product and its quantitative reaction with amine groups were the salient features of this convergent synthesis. This eliminated the use of chromatographic purification, an inherent part of other convergent growth approaches, and made it a very efficient synthetic route for the synthesis of dendritic wedges. The products were characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and electron spray mass spectroscopy (ESMS) techniques. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 1295–1304, 2001     

Total synthesis of the fully lipidated glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor of malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum

We report a new and convergent strategy for the total synthesis of fully lipidated glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor, the major pro-inflammatory factor of malarial parasite (Plasmodium falciparum). The key features of our approach include, the access to the key glucosamine-inositol intermediate by a novel route without a priori resolution of myo-inositol, convergent assembly of the tetramannose glycan domain, flexibility for the placement of the three fatty acids in the desired order in the final steps, and the opportunity to construct GPI analogues/mimics to probe the biosynthesis, immunology and cell biology of the GPI anchor pathway in the malaria parasite.     

De novo synthesis of uronic acid building blocks for assembly of heparin oligosaccharides

An efficient de novo synthesis of uronic acid building blocks is described. The synthetic strategy relies on the stereoselective elongation of thioacetal protected dialdehydes 12 a and 17. The dialdehydes are prepared from D-xylose, a cheap and commercially available source. A highly stereoselective MgBr(2)OEt(2)-mediated Mukaiyama aldol addition to C4-aldehyde 12 a is performed to obtain D-glucuronic acid building block 16, whereas L-iduronic acid building block 22 is prepared by MgBr(2)OEt(2)-mediated cyanation of C5-aldehyde 17. Synthesis of a heparin disaccharide demonstrates the utility of the de novo strategy for the assembly of glycosaminoglycan oligosaccharides.     

A practical synthesis of differentially protected 2-(hydroxymethyl)piperazines

An efficient and scalable synthesis of three differentially protected 2-(hydroxymethyl)piperazines is presented, starting from optically active and commercially available (2S)-piperazine-2-carboxylic acid dihydrochloride. These synthetic building blocks are useful in the preparation of biologically active compounds and as chemical scaffolds for the construction of combinatorial libraries.     

Sulfinimine-derived 2,3-diamino esters in the asymmetric synthesis of piperidine (2S,3S)-(+)-CP-99,994

Sulfinimine-derived, differentially protected, 2,3-diamino esters are useful building blocks for the asymmetric synthesis of heterocycles and is illustrated by an efficient synthesis of amino piperidine (+)-CP-99,994.