Total Synthesis of Vancomycin Aglycon—Part 1: Synthesis of Amino Acids 4–7 and Construction of the AB-COD Ring Skeleton

A triazene-based synthetic strategy for the construction of the complex biaryl ethers and a Suzuki coupling reaction were the key steps in the synthesis of precursor 1 of the aglycon of vancomycin, which already contains the complete skeleton of the target compound. The cleavage of the triazene unit from the D ring and the removal of the other protecting groups led to the aglycon of vancomycin. These strategies should be particularly valuable for the synthesis of other naturally occurring glycopeptide antibiotics and offer opportunities for the synthesis of combinatorial libraries of compounds of the vancomycin family for chemical biology studies.     

Total Synthesis of Vancomycin Aglycon—Part 3: Final Stages

A triazene-based synthetic strategy for the construction of the complex biaryl ethers and a Suzuki coupling reaction were the key steps in the synthesis of precursor 1 of the aglycon of vancomycin, which already contains the complete skeleton of the target compound. The cleavage of the triazene unit from the D ring and the removal of the other protecting groups led to the aglycon of vancomycin. These strategies should be particularly valuable for the synthesis of other naturally occurring glycopeptide antibiotics and offer opportunities for the synthesis of combinatorial libraries of compounds of the vancomycin family for chemical biology studies.     

Nonconventional Stereochemical Issues in the Design of the Synthesis of the Vancomycin Antibiotics: Challenges Imposed by Axial and Nonplanar Chiral Elements in the Heptapeptide Aglycons

Controlling the elements of planar and axial chirality are the principal challenges in the synthesis of the aglycon of vancomycin. Vancomycin is the prototypical member of the glycopeptide family of antibiotics which are effective for the treatment of infections by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The first total syntheses of the vancomycin and eremomycin aglycons provide insight into the influence of structure on kinetic and thermodynamic control of atropselective macrocyclizations.     

Total Syntheses of Vancomycin and Eremomycin Aglycons

Controlling the elements of planar and axial chirality are the principal challenges in the synthesis of the aglycon of vancomycin. Vancomycin is the prototypical member of the glycopeptide family of antibiotics which are effective for the treatment of infections by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The first total syntheses of the vancomycin and eremomycin aglycons provide insight into the influence of structure on kinetic and thermodynamic control of atropselective macrocyclizations.     

Donor‐Bound Glycosylation for Various Glycosyl Acceptors: Bidirectional Solid‐Phase Semisynthesis of Vancomycin and Its Derivatives

The glycosidation of a polymer‐supported glycosyl donor, N‐phenyltrifluoroacetimidate, with various glycosyl acceptors is reported. The application of the polymer‐supported N‐phenyltrifluoroacetimidate is demonstrated in the synthesis of vancomycin derivatives. 2‐O‐[2‐(azidomethyl)benzoyl]glycosyl imidate was attached to a polymer support at the 6‐position by a phenylsulfonate linked with a C13 alkyl spacer. Solid‐phase glycosidation with a vancomycin aglycon, selective deprotection of the 2‐(azidomethyl)benzoyl group, and glycosylation of the resulting 2‐hydroxy group with a vancosamine unit were performed. Nucleophilic cleavage from the polymer support with acetate, chloride, azido, and thioacetate ions provided vancomycin derivatives in pure form after simple purification. The semisynthesis of vancomycin was achieved by deprotection of the acetate derivative.     

Total Syntheses of Vancomycin

A total synthesis of the vancomycin aglycon 1 has eluded synthetic chemists for so many years that the preparation of this molecule has become a vendetta for some groups. Finally, and almost simultaneously, research teams led by Evans and by Nicolaou have succeeded. Similarities and differences in their synthetic approaches are highlighted herein.     

Total synthesis of [Ψ[C(═S)NH]Tpg4]vancomycin aglycon, [Ψ[C(═NH)NH]Tpg4]vancomycin aglycon, and related key compounds: reengineering vancomycin for dual D-Ala-D-Ala and D-Ala-D-Lac binding

The total synthesis of [Ψ[C(═S)NH]Tpg(4)]vancomycin aglycon (8) and its unique AgOAc-promoted single-step conversion to [Ψ[C(═NH)NH]Tpg(4)]vancomycin aglycon (7), conducted on a fully deprotected substrate, are disclosed. The synthetic approach not only permits access to 7, but it also allows late-stage access to related residue 4 derivatives, alternative access to [Ψ[CH(2)NH]Tpg(4)]vancomycin aglycon (6) from a common late-stage intermediate, and provides authentic residue 4 thioamide and amidine derivatives of the vancomycin aglycon that will facilitate ongoing efforts on their semisynthetic preparation. In addition to early stage residue 4 thioamide introduction, allowing differentiation of one of seven amide bonds central to the vancomycin core structure, the approach relied on two aromatic nucleophilic substitution reactions for formation of the 16-membered diaryl ethers in the CD/DE ring systems, an effective macrolactamization for closure of the 12-membered biaryl AB ring system, and the defined order of CD, AB, and DE ring closures. This order of ring closures follows their increasing ease of thermal atropisomer equilibration, permitting the recycling of any newly generated unnatural atropisomer under progressively milder thermal conditions where the atropoisomer stereochemistry already set is not impacted. Full details of the evaluation of 7 and 8 along with several related key synthetic compounds containing the core residue 4 amidine and thioamide modifications are reported. The binding affinity of compounds containing the residue 4 amidine with the model D-Ala-D-Ala ligand 2 was found to be only 2-3 times less than the vancomycin aglycon (5), and this binding affinity is maintained with the model d-Ala-d-Lac ligand 4, representing a nearly 600-fold increase in affinity relative to the vancomycin aglycon. Importantly, the amidines display effective dual, balanced binding affinity for both ligands (K(a)2/4 = 0.9-1.05), and they exhibit potent antimicrobial activity against VanA resistant bacteria ( E. faecalis , VanA VRE) at a level accurately reflecting these binding characteristics (MIC = 0.3-0.6 μg/mL), charting a rational approach forward in the development of antibiotics for the treatment of vancomycin-resistant bacterial infections. In sharp contrast, 8 and related residue 4 thioamides failed to bind either 2 or 4 to any appreciable extent, do not exhibit antimicrobial activity, and serve to further underscore the remarkable behavior of the residue 4 amidines.     

Total synthesis and evaluation of [Psi[CH2NH]Tpg4]vancomycin aglycon: reengineering vancomycin for dual D-Ala-D-Ala and D-Ala-D-Lac binding

An effective synthesis of [Psi[CH(2)NH]Tpg(4)]vancomycin aglycon (5) is detailed in which the residue 4 amide carbonyl of vancomycin aglycon has been replaced with a methylene. This removal of a single atom was conducted to enhance binding to D-Ala-D-Lac, countering resistance endowed to bacteria that remodel their D-Ala-D-Ala peptidoglycan cell wall precursor by a similar single atom change (ester O for amide NH). Key elements of the approach include a synthesis of the modified vancomycin ABCD ring system featuring a reductive amination coupling of residues 4 and 5 for installation of the deep-seated amide modification, the first of two diaryl ether closures for formation of the modified CD ring system (76%, 2.5-3:1 kinetic atropodiastereoselectivity), a Suzuki coupling for installation of the hindered AB biaryl bond (90%) on which the atropisomer stereochemistry could be thermally adjusted, and a macrolactamization closure of the AB ring system (70%). Subsequent DE ring system introduction enlisted a room-temperature aromatic nucleophilic substitution reaction for formation of the remaining diaryl ether (86%, 6-7:1 kinetic atropodiastereoselectivity), completing the carbon skeleton of 5. Consistent with expectations and relative to the vancomycin aglycon, 5 exhibited a 40-fold increase in affinity for D-Ala-D-Lac (K(a) = 5.2 x 10(3) M(-1)) and a 35-fold reduction in affinity for D-Ala-D-Ala (K(a) = 4.8 x 10(3) M(-1)), providing a glycopeptide analogue with balanced, dual binding characteristics. Beautifully, 5 exhibited antimicrobial activity (MIC = 31 microg/mL) against a VanA-resistant organism that remodels its D-Ala-D-Ala cell wall precursor to d-Ala-d-Lac upon glycopeptide antibiotic challenge, displaying a potency that reflects these binding characteristics.     

Synthesis of the aglycon of aspafiliosides E and F via a spiroketal-forming cascade

A facile synthesis of C17α-OH-tigogenin, the aglycon of aspafiliosides E and F, is described. The crucial step is the spiroketal-forming cascade, which forms the rings EF in one step and provides a new strategy for spiroketal ring closure in steroidal sapogenins and other substrates. This synthesis minimizes redundant oxidation-reduction manipulations of previous syntheses.     

A redesigned vancomycin engineered for dual D-Ala-D-ala And D-Ala-D-Lac binding exhibits potent antimicrobial activity against vancomycin-resistant bacteria

The emergence of bacteria resistant to vancomycin, often the antibiotic of last resort, poses a major health problem. Vancomycin-resistant bacteria sense a glycopeptide antibiotic challenge and remodel their cell wall precursor peptidoglycan terminus from d-Ala-d-Ala to d-Ala-d-Lac, reducing the binding of vancomycin to its target 1000-fold and accounting for the loss in antimicrobial activity. Here, we report [Ψ[C(═NH)NH]Tpg(4)]vancomycin aglycon designed to exhibit the dual binding to d-Ala-d-Ala and d-Ala-d-Lac needed to reinstate activity against vancomycin-resistant bacteria. Its binding to a model d-Ala-d-Ala ligand was found to be only 2-fold less than vancomycin aglycon and this affinity was maintained with a model d-Ala-d-Lac ligand, representing a 600-fold increase relative to vancomycin aglycon. Accurately reflecting these binding characteristics, it exhibits potent antimicrobial activity against vancomycin-resistant bacteria (MIC = 0.31 μg/mL, VanA VRE). Thus, a complementary single atom exchange in the vancomycin core structure (O → NH) to counter the single atom exchange in the cell wall precursors of resistant bacteria (NH → O) reinstates potent antimicrobial activity and charts a rational path forward for the development of antibiotics for the treatment of vancomycin-resistant bacterial infections.     

Synthesis of 4-(2-chloroethoxy)phenyl glycosides and their modification

4-(2-Chloroethoxy)phenyl (CEP) aglycon belongs to the class of Janus aglycons and has already been used as a pre-spacer in the synthesis of neoglycoconjugates and as a temporary protective group in the synthesis of oligosaccharides. In the present work, a set of glycosides of various monosaccharides containing CEP aglycon was synthesized. The possibility of modification of CEP aglycon was demonstrated using the corresponding lactoside as an example.

     

Synthesis of (±)‐Tetrapetalone A‐Me Aglycon

The first synthesis of (±)‐tetrapetalone A‐Me aglycon is described. Key bond‐forming reactions include Nazarov cyclization, a ring‐closing metathesis promoted with complete diastereoselectivity by a chiral molybdenum‐based complex, tandem conjugate reduction/intramolecular aldol cyclization, and oxidative dearomatization.     

Nucleotides. Part XLVIII. Synthesis of 2′-amino-2′-deoxyarabinonucleoside phosphoramidite building blocks

Chemical syntheses of 2′-amino-2′-deoxyarabinonucleosides of uracil, thymine, cytosine, adenine, and guanine and their conversion into suitably protected 3′-phosphoramidite building blocks 24–28 for oligonucleotide synthesis are described. The 2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethoxycarbonyl (npeoc) group was used for protection of the aglycon and the 2′-amino functions.     

The structural basis for induction of VanB resistance

Because teicoplanin and vancomycin are the last line of defense for many bacterial infections, the emergence of resistance to glycopeptide antibiotics in enterococci and streptococci has aroused concern. Despite their similarity in terms of structure and mechanism of action, vancomycin induces the expression of genes that leads to bacterial resistance, and teicoplanin does not. We have used a combination of chemical and enzymatic methods to produce sets of vancomycin and teicoplanin analogues that allow us to consider whether the aglycon, the carbohydrate, or other parts of these molecules stimulate VanB resistance. We show that the teicoplanin and vancomycin aglycons are the structural elements that lead to induction of resistance. We think that lipid-containing analogues of vancomycin, like teicoplanin itself, circumvent resistance because the lipid chain changes the periplasmic distribution of the glycopeptide and, therefore, changes the biosynthetic step that it blocks.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of Putative Lipiarmycin Aglycon Related to Fidaxomicin/Tiacumicin B

An enantioselective synthesis of a putative lipiarmycin aglycon was accomplished and features: 1) Brown′s enantioselective alkoxyallylboration and allylation of aldehydes, 2) chain elongation by iterative Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons olefination, 3) Evans’ aldol reaction and 4) an ene‐diene ring‐closing metathesis. A neighboring‐group‐assisted chemoselective reductive desilylation was uncovered in this study and was instrumental to the realization of the present synthesis.     

First Synthesis of a Series of New Natural Glucosides

Alkyl glucoside 1 and aryl glycosides 2-4 were highly stereospecifically synthesized over 4-6 steps from commercially available starting materials. The coupling reaction of the acetobromo-α-D-glucose with the unprotective dihydroxy aglycon in the presence of silver oxide, or with aromatic aglycon in the presence of sodium hydroxide produced the key intermediate. Only β-configuration glycosides were formed in this procedure. The synthesis of all these glycosides was reported for the first time.     

Total Asymmetric Synthesis of a New 9,12‐Anhydroerythronolide Aglycone

Two novel, potentially antimicrobial erythronolide aglycon analogs ((−)‐ 9 and (−)‐ 30 , respectively), which incorporate a large number of contiguous stereogenic centers, have been prepared by multistep synthesis from simple chirons. The chemistry presented demonstrates the power of the so‐called ‘naked sugars of the second generation' approach. As for the sporeamicins, our macrolides are 9,12‐anhydroerythronolides, yet presenting a higher degree of complexity due to additional functional groups.     

First Total Synthesis of Trehalose‐Containing Branched Oligosaccharide OSE‐1 of Mycobacterium gordonae (Strain 990)

The first total synthesis of the branched oligosaccharide OSE‐1 of Mycobacterium gordonae (strain 990) is reported. An intramolecular aglycon delivery approach was used for constructing the desymmetrized 1,1′‐α,α‐linked trehalose moiety. A [3+2] glycosylation of the trisaccharide donor and trehalose acceptor furnished the right hand side pentasaccharide. Regioselective O3 glycosylation of L ‐rhamnosyl 2,3‐diol allowed expedient synthesis of the left hand side tetrasaccharide. The nonasaccharide was assembled in a highly convergent fashion through a [4+5] glycosylation.     

Total Synthesis of Antitumor Antibiotic Derhodinosylurdamycin A

The first total synthesis of derhodinosylurdamycin A, an angucycline antitumor antibiotic, has been described. The synthesis features a Hauser annulation followed by pinacol coupling to construct the tetracyclic angular aglycon, a Stille coupling of glycal stannane and tetracyclic aryliodide followed by stereoselective reduction to afford the 2‐deoxy β‐C‐arylglycoside, and a late‐stage stereoselective glycosylation for the preparation of derhodinosylurdamycin A. This synthetic strategy should be amenable to the chemical synthesis of analogs of derhodinosylurdamycin A bearing diverse 2‐deoxy sugar subunits for structure and activity relationship studies.     

Efficient Synthesis and Antitumor Activities of Indioside E Analogs

An efficient synthesis of seven analogs of a naturally occurring saponin, indioside E, is described. The synthesis used a 3,4,6-O-protected D-galactopyranosyl thioglycoside as the key intermediate to enable regioselective glycosylation and one-pot multistep reactions. Antitumor activities of the synthetic saponins against a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line BEL-7402 and a human breast adenocarcinoma cell line MCF-7 were evaluated by means of the CCK-8 assay. Analogs carrying trisaccharides with the D-xylopyranose in indioside E substituted with a D-ribopyranose and an L-arabinopyranose or with its diosgenin aglycon replaced with tigogenin exhibited similar antitumor activities as indioside E, but not other analogs.