Chemoenzymatic synthesis of 4-diphosphocytidyl-2-C-methyl-d-erythritol: a substrate for IspE

Enantiomerically pure 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol 4-phosphate 1 (MEP) is synthesized from 1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-d-xylofuranose via facile benzylation in good yield. Subsequently, 1 is used for enzymatic synthesis of 4-diphosphocytidyl-2-C-methyl-d-erythritol 2 (CDP-ME) using 4-diphosphocytidyl-2-C-methyl-d-erythritol synthase (IspD). The chemoenzymatically synthesized 2 can be used as substrate for assay of IspE and for high throughput screening to identify IspE inhibitors.     

Doubly carbon-branched pentoses: synthesis of both enantiomers of 2,4-di-C-methyl arabinose and 2-deoxy-2,4-di-C-methyl arabinose using only acetonide protection

An acetonide is the only protecting group used in the synthesis of both the enantiomers of 2,4-di-C-methyl arabinose and 2-deoxy-2,4-di-C-methyl arabinose via the enantiomeric 3-C-methyl-l-erythronolactone [from 2-C-methyl-d-ribono-lactone or d-ribose] and 3-C-methyl-d-erythronolactone [from d-tagatose or l-ribose]. NMR studies on unprotected C-methyl arabinoses show that methyl branching significantly affects the ratios of pyranose and furanose forms present in aqueous solution.     

Practical synthesis of 1-deoxy-d-xylulose and 1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate allowing deuterium labelling

An optimised gram scale synthesis allows the production of 1-deoxy-d-xylulose and 1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate with possible deuterium labelling at C-5. Such substrates are required for investigations on the mevalonate-independent 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol 4-phosphate pathway for isoprenoid biosynthesis in bacteria and chloroplasts of phototrophic eukaryotes and for the biosynthesis of vitamins B₁ (thiamine diphosphate) and B₆ (pyridoxol phosphate) in bacteria.     

Facile synthesis of 6a-carba-β-d-fructopyranose through an RCM approach

A new synthetic approach toward 6a-carba-β-d-fructopyranose, a non-nutritive sweetener related to topiramate, is described. This scheme uses 2-C-hydroxymethyl-l-erythrose acetonide as starting material and efficiently delivers the target compound applying an RCM protocol for the construction of the carbocycle ring.     

Towards the biotechnological isomerization of branched sugars: d-tagatose-3-epimerase equilibrates both enantiomers of 4-C-methyl-ribulose with both enantiomers of 4-C-methyl-xylulose

Microbial oxidation of 2-C-methyl-d-ribitol and 2-C-methyl-d-arabinitol by Gluconobacter thailandicus NBRC 3254 produces 4-C-methyl-l-ribulose and 4-C-methyl-d-ribulose, respectively. Further, 4-C-methyl-l-ribulose and 4-C-methyl-d-ribulose were equilibrated by d-tagatose-3-epimerase (DTE) with 4-C-methyl-l-xylulose and 4-C-methyl-d-xylulose, respectively. These transformations demonstrate that polyol dehydrogenase and DTE act on branched synthetic sugars. The green preparation of all of the stereoisomers of 4-C-methyl pentuloses illustrates the ability of biotechnology to generate novel branched monosaccharides.     

4-C-Me-DAB and 4-C-Me-LAB - enantiomeric alkyl-branched pyrrolidine iminosugars - are specific and potent α-glucosidase inhibitors; acetone as the sole protecting group

The syntheses of 4-C-Me-DAB [1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-4-C-methyl-d-arabinitol] from l-erythronolactone and of 4-C-Me-LAB [from d-erythronolactone] require only a single acetonide protecting group. The effect of pH on the NMR spectra of 4-C-Me-DAB [pK_a of the salt around 8.4] is discussed and illustrates the need for care in the analysis of both coupling constants and chemical shift. 4-C-Me-DAB (for rat intestinal sucrase K_i 0.89 μM, IC₅₀ 0.41 μM) is a competitive—whereas 4-C-Me-LAB (for rat intestinal sucrase K_i 0.95 μM, IC₅₀ 0.66 μM) is a non-competitive—specific and potent α-glucosidase inhibitor. A rationale for the α-glucosidase inhibition by DAB, LAB, 4-C-Me-DAB, 4-C-Me-LAB and isoDAB—but not isoLAB—is provided. Both are inhibitors of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) resident α-glucosidase I and II.     

Intramolecular C-glycosylation of 2-O-benzylated pentenyl mannopyranosides: remarkable 1,2-trans stereoselectivity

The IDCP-promoted intramolecular C-glycosylation of pentenyl α-mannopyranosides carrying, at O-2, an activated benzyl group gave, unexpectedly, the 1,2-trans-fused bicyclic product which corresponds to an α-C-aryl mannopyranose derivative. This remarkable, strained C-glycosyl compound was rapidly epimerized to the more stable 1,2-cis product on treatment with BF₃·Et₂O. The IDCP-reaction product could be elaborated into a 2-(α-C-mannopyranosyl)-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzyl alcohol derivative.     

Green aldose isomerisation: 2-C-methyl-1,4-lactones from the reaction of Amadori ketoses with calcium hydroxide

Saccharinic acids, branched 2-C-methyl-aldonic acids, may be accessed via a green procedure from aldoses by sequential conversion to an Amadori ketose and treatment with calcium hydroxide; d-galactose and d-glucose are converted to 2-C-methyl-d-lyxono-1,4-lactone (with a small amount of 2-C-methyl-d-xylono-1,4-lactone) and 2-C-methyl-d-ribono-1,4-lactone. Inversion of configuration at C-4 of the branched lactones allows access to 2-C-methyl-l-ribono-1,4-lactone and 2-C-methyl-l-lyxono-1,4-lactone, respectively. d-Xylose affords 2-C-methyl-d-threono-1,4-lactone and 2-C-methyl-d-erythrono-1,4-lactone, whereas l-arabinose, under similar conditions, gave the enantiomers 2-C-methyl-l-threono-1,4-lactone and 2-C-methyl-l-erythrono-1,4-lactone.     

Chiral 2-C-methylene glycosides and carbohydrate-derived pyrano[2,3-b][1]benzopyrans: synthesis via InCl3 catalyzed stereoselective Ferrier rearrangement of 2-C-acetoxymethyl glycal derivatives

2-C-Acetoxymethyl glycal derivatives react with aliphatic alcohols in the presence of InCl₃ (30 mol %) to furnish the corresponding 2-C-methylene glycosides in excellent yields and with exclusive α-selectivity except for the methyl 2-C-methylene glycosides, which are formed in ∼2:1 anomeric ratio in favour of the α-anomer. The reaction of 2-C-acetoxyglycals with phenols, however, produces the corresponding chiral carbohydrate-derived pyranobenzopyran derivatives via initial Ferrier rearrangement followed by tandem cyclization in excellent yields and moderate to high stereoselectivities in favour of the corresponding 10a-R-pyrano[2,3-b][1]benzopyran derivatives.     

First synthesis of (1,2-C2)-monolignol glucosides

The monolignol glucosides (1,2-¹³C₂)-p-glucocoumaryl alcohol, (1,2-¹³C₂)-coniferin and (1,2-¹³C₂)-syringin, and the glucosides of (1,2-¹³C₂)-p-coumaric, (1,2-¹³C₂)-ferulic and (1,2-¹³C₂)-sinapic acids were synthesized by condensation of the corresponding aldehydes with (1,2,3-¹³C₃)-malonic acid. The free acids were converted to the acyl chlorides prior to their reduction to alcohols.     

Anomeric stereospecific synthesis of 2′-C-methyl β-nucleosides; the Holy reaction of cyanamide with 2-C-methyl-d-arabinose

The sequential reactions of 2-C-methyl-d-arabinose with cyanamide and methyl propiolate afford an anhydronucleoside, which may be opened under acid conditions with inversion at C2′, to give 2′-C-methyl uridine; ring opening with sodium hydroxide gave 2′-C-methyl arabino-uridine with retention of configuration at C2′. This gives complete stereospecific control to yield only β-nucleosides.     

Divergent synthesis of 2-C-branched pyranosides and oxepines from 1,2-gem-dibromocyclopropyl carbohydrates

The ring opening of 1,2-(gem-dibromo)cyclopropyl carbohydrates by two different modes leads to either 2-C-(bromomethylene)pyranosides (using base) or 2-bromooxepines (using silver salts), as shown previously by us for a d-glucal-derived cyclopropane. The base-promoted ring opening is extended to encompass additional alcohol, thiol and amine nucleophiles, and diastereoisomeric cyclopropane precursors. Cross-coupling of the 2-C-(bromomethylene)pyranosides leads to extended 2-C-branched pyranosides. Silver-promoted ring expansion of the cyclopropyl carbohydrates in the presence of various alcohols is described. Cross-coupling of the resulting benzyl 2-bromooxepines affords 2-C-substituted oxepines.     

Dinucleotides of 4′-C-vinyl- and 5′-C-allylthymidine as substrates for ring-closing metathesis reactions

Thymidine derivatives containing a 4′-C-vinyl group or a 5′-C-allyl group are synthesized and used as building blocks for three different dinucleotides. These are evaluated as substrates for ring-closing metathesis cyclisations, and a protected 5′-C-allylthymidine homo-dimer is found to be the most reactive. A protected precursor for a conformationally restricted cyclic dinucleotide with a four carbon 5′-C to 5′-C connection is hereby efficiently obtained, whereas a corresponding three carbon 4′-C to 5′-C connection is obtained in a lower yield.     

Hydroxylated C-branched pyrrolidines, C-branched prolines and C-branched piperidines from a 2-C-methyl sugar lactone; efficient azide displacement of a tertiary triflate with inversion of configuration

The versatility of 3,4-O-isopropylidene-2-C-methyl-d-arabinonolactone [from d-erythronolactone] as a chiron for complex piperidines and pyrrolidines is illustrated by the synthesis of (2R,3S,4S)- and (2R,3S,4R)-dihydroxy-2-C-methyl prolines, 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-4-C-methyl-l-ribitol and 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-4-C-methyl-l-arabinitol, and isofagomine derivatives; the enantiomeric series is equally accessible from l-erythronolactone.     

Synthesis of thio-C-glycosides from 2′-carbonylalkyl C-glycosides by a tandem β-elimination and intramolecular hetero-Michael addition

2′-Carbonyl 5-S-acetyl-C-glycofuranosides and 2′-carbonyl 4-S-acetyl-C-glycopyranosides were converted in good yields to respective 5-thio-C-glycopyranosides and 4-thio-C-glycofuranosides under base treatment. The transformation was resulted from β-elimination on 2′-carbonyl C-glycoside to form α,β-conjugated aldehyde (or ketone) and following intramolecular hetero-Michael addition by the thiol group.     

Reaction of acetylated carbohydrates with trimethylaluminum: concise synthesis of 1,2-O-isopropylidene d-ribofuranose

Treatment of β-d-ribose tetraacetate with trimethylaluminum gives α-3,5-O-acetyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-d-ribofuranoside in excellent yield. This reaction allows for efficient and high-yielding installation of the 1,2-isopropylidene acetal (acetonide), which is difficult to prepare using more traditional acid-catalyzed methods. The reaction of trimethylaluminum with other per-acetylated carbohydrates is also described.     

Stereoselective synthesis of versatile 2-chloromercurium-3,5-syn-dihydroxy esters via intramolecular oxymercuration

Regio- and stereocontrolled alkoxy mercuration of α,β-unsaturated esters allows direct access to 1,3-syn diols in good yields. Demercuration of adducts leads to 1,3 skipped dihydroxy esters, alcohols, and α-halo esters. The deprotection of acetonide with Amberlyst 15 on 1,3-syn-dihydroxy esters gives the corresponding δ-lactones.     

Microwave spectra of tetrahydroselenophene-α13C, -β13C and molecular ring structure

Microwave spectra of isotopic species α-¹³C and β-¹³C of tetrahydroselenophene molecules have been investigated and rotational constants determined: A = 5608.98 Mc, B = 2819.532 Mc, C = 2022.624 Mc forα-¹³C isotopic species and A = 5695.94 Mc, B = 2770.714 Mc, C = 2009.166 Mc for β-¹³C isotopic species. The r_s-ring structure was found to be Se-C₂ = 1.963 Å, C₂-C₃ = 1.549 Å, C₃-C₄ = 1.527 Å, ∠C₅SeC₂ = 90° 44', ∠SeC₂C₃ = 104° 58', ∠C₂C₃C₄ = 106° 52', the angle of twist = 29° 44'.     

Syntheses of 2′-C-amidoalkyl and 2′-C-cyanoalkyl containing oligodeoxyribonucleotides and assessment of their hybridisation affinity for complementary DNA and RNA

Oligodeoxynucleotides containing 2′-C-branched nucleosides with an amide or nitrile appended to either a one or two carbon alkyl chain have been synthesised. The phosphoramidites of the 2′-C-modified nucleosides were prepared and incorporated into the oligonucleotides using automated DNA synthesis. The duplex stability with complementary RNA and DNA was measured by UV melting experiments, in order to assess whether the amide/nitrile function could induce any duplex stability without the presence of the 2′-oxygen. The duplex stabilities of the oligonucleotides containing the 2′-C-modifications were decreased in the absence of the 2′-oxygen.     

Synthesis of PI-88 analogue using novel O-glycosidation of exo-methylenesugars

Acid-promoted α-stereoselective O-glycosidation of 1-exo-methylenesugars was successfully applied to the synthesis of a PI-88 analogue. By using methanesulfonic acid as a promoter, 1′-C-methyl-α-disaccharides with p-methoxybenzyl protection were obtained in high yield. The sequence of selective deprotection and glycosidation provided 1-C-methyl-pentasaccharide efficiently.