Electrochemical generation of glycosyl triflate pools

Glycosyl triflates, which serve as important intermediates in glycosylation reactions, were generated and accumulated by the low-temperature electrochemical oxidation of thioglycosides such as thioglucosides, thiogalactosides, and thiomannosides in the presence of tetrabutylammonium triflate (Bu(4)NOTf) as a supporting electrolyte. Thus-obtained solutions of glycosyl triflates (glycosyl triflate pools) were characterized by low-temperature NMR measurements. The thermal stability of glycosyl triflates and their reactions with glycosyl acceptors were also examined.     

S-(4-methoxyphenyl) benzenethiosulfinate (MPBT)/trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride: a convenient system for the generation of glycosyl triflates from thioglycosides

[structure] The combination of S-(4-methoxyphenyl) benzenethiosulfinate (MPBT, 1) and trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride forms a powerful, metal-free, thiophile which readily activates thioglycosides, via glycosyl triflates, at -60 degrees C in dichloromethane, in the presence of 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylpyridine. The glycosyl triflates are rapidly and cleanly converted to glycosides, upon treatment with alcohols, in good yield and selectivity.     

Establishment of Guidelines for the Control of Glycosylation Reactions and Intermediates by Quantitative Assessment of Reactivity

Stereocontrolled chemical glycosylation remains a major challenge despite vast efforts reported over many decades and so far still mainly relies on trial and error. Now it is shown that the relative reactivity value (RRV) of thioglycosides is an indicator for revealing stereoselectivities according to four types of acceptors. Mechanistic studies show that the reaction is dominated by two distinct intermediates: glycosyl triflates and glycosyl halides from N‐halosuccinimide (NXS)/TfOH. The formation of glycosyl halide is highly correlated with the production of α‐glycoside. These findings enable glycosylation reactions to be foreseen by using RRVs as an α/β‐selectivity indicator and guidelines and rules to be developed for stereocontrolled glycosylation.     

1-Fluoropyridinium triflates: versatile reagents for transformation of thioglycoside into O-glycoside, glycosyl azide and sulfoxide

1-Fluoropyridinium triflates are versatile reagents to transform thioglycoside into O-glycoside, glycosyl azide and sulfoxide. The electronic nature of the substituents on the pyridine ring can control their ability to activate thioglycosides.     

Direct stereocontrolled synthesis of 3-amino-3-deoxy-beta-mannopyranosides: importance of the nitrogen protecting group on stereoselectivity

The highly stereocontrolled synthesis of the 3-amino-3-deoxy-beta-mannopyranosides is achieved by means of thioglycoside donors protected with a 4,6-O-benzylidene or alkylidene acetal and a benzylidene imine group. Among the various nitrogen protecting groups investigated only the Schiff's base was found to give high beta-selectivity. N-Phthalimido and N-acetamido protected donors were found to be highly alpha-selective, whereas 3-azido-3-deoxy glycosyl donors gave intermediate selectivity. The reasons for the protecting group dependency are discussed in terms of the change in the O2-C2-C3-N3 torsional interaction on conversion of the covalent glycosyl triflates to the transient oxacarbenium ions.     

Mechanistic Investigations into the Application of Sulfoxides in Carbohydrate Synthesis

The utility of sulfoxides in a diverse range of transformations in the field of carbohydrate chemistry has seen rapid growth since the first introduction of a sulfoxide as a glycosyl donor in 1989. Sulfoxides have since developed into more than just anomeric leaving groups, and today have multiple roles in glycosylation reactions. These include as activators for thioglycosides, hemiacetals, and glycals, and as precursors to glycosyl triflates, which are essential for stereoselective β‐mannoside synthesis, and bicyclic sulfonium ions that facilitate the stereoselective synthesis of α‐glycosides. In this review we highlight the mechanistic investigations undertaken in this area, often outlining strategies employed to differentiate between multiple proposed reaction pathways, and how the conclusions of these investigations have and continue to inform upon the development of more efficient transformations in sulfoxide‐based carbohydrate synthesis.     

Single-Step Glycosylations with 13C-Labelled Sulfoxide Donors: A Low-Temperature NMR Cartography of the Distinguishing Mechanistic Intermediates

Glycosyl sulfoxides have gained recognition in the total synthesis of complex oligosaccharides and as model substrates for dissecting the mechanisms involved. Reactions of these donors are usually performed under pre-activation conditions, but an experimentally more convenient single-step protocol has also been reported, whereby activation is performed in the presence of the acceptor alcohol; yet, the nature and prevalence of the reaction intermediates formed in this more complex scenario have comparatively received minimal attention. Herein, a systematic NMR-based study employing both ¹³C-labelled and unlabelled glycosyl sulfoxide donors for the detection and monitoring of marginally populated intermediates is reported. The results conclusively show that glycosyl triflates play a key role in these glycosylations despite the presence of the acceptor alcohol. Importantly, the formation of covalent donor/acceptor sulfonium adducts was identified as the main competing reaction, and thus a non-productive consumption of the acceptor that could limit the reaction yield was revealed.     

α-Glucosylation Reactions with 2,3,4,6-Tetra-O-Benzyl-β-D-Glucopyranosyl Fluoride and Triflic Anhydride as Promoter

ABSTRACT

Triflic anhydride is a suitable promoter for the glucosylation of glycosyl aceptors of medium or low reactivity using 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl fluoride as donor. In the glucosylation of reactive hydroxyl groups competing triflate formation was observed. The use of molecular sieves as acid scavenger allows the formation of triflates of reactive alcohols under non-basic conditions.     

Synthesis and glycosylation of a series of 6-mono-, di-, and trifluoro S-phenyl 2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-thiorhamnopyranosides. Effect of the fluorine substituents on glycosylation stereoselectivity

A series of 6-mono-, di-, and trifluoro analogs of S-phenyl 2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-D- or L-thiorhamnopyranoside has been synthesized and used as donors in glycosylation reactions, with activation by the 1-benzenesulfinyl piperidine/triflic anhydride system. The stereochemical outcome of the glycosylation reactions was found to depend on the electron-withdrawing capability of the disarming substituent at the 6-position, i.e., on the number of fluorine atoms present. The results are explained with regard to the increased stability of the glycosyl triflates, shown to be intermediates in the reaction by low-temperature 1H NMR experiments, with increased fluorine content.     

α‐ and β‐Glycosyl Sulfonium Ions: Generation and Reactivity

Low‐temperature electrochemical oxidation of thioglycosides gave glycosyl triflates from which glycosyl sulfonium ions were produced (see scheme). The latter were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and cold‐spray mass spectrometry as a mixture of α‐ and β‐isomers (45:55). The α‐glycosyl sulfonium ion exhibited higher reactivity than the β‐glycosyl sulfonium ion in the reaction with methanol, which gave a mixture of α‐ and β‐methyl glycosides (41:59).

     

Ring opening/fragmentation of dihydropyrones for the synthesis of homopropargyl alcohols

Ring-opening/C-C bond cleavage reactions induced by nucleophilic addition of methyl Grignard to 5,6-dihydro-2-pyrone (DHP) triflates 1 furnish homopropargyl alcohols (1 --> 2) stereospecifically with respect to the stereochemistry of 1. Carbonyl extrusion from DHP triflates provides a unified and operationally simple strategy for preparing chiral homopropargyl alcohols.     

Aryl triflates: useful coupling partners for the direct arylation of heteroaryl derivatives via Pd-catalyzed C-H activation-functionalization

Aryl triflates were found to be suitable partners for the palladium catalyzed direct arylation of heteroaromatics via C-H activation-functionalization. The reaction conditions and the catalyst have a determining influence on the yields. The system combining PPh3 and Pd(OAc)2 using KOAc as base and DMF as solvent promotes the selective 2- or 5-arylations in moderate to high yields. Several heteroaromatics such as furan, thiophene, thiazole or oxazole derivatives have been employed successfully. The electronic properties of the aryl triflates also have a decisive influence on the yields of the coupling products. Electron-rich aryl triflates gave satisfactory results, whereas the electron-poor ones led to the formation of phenols.     

Regioselective strategies mediated by lanthanide triflates for efficient assembly of oligomannans

Readily prepared mannosyl n-pentenylorthoesters (NPOEs) serve as donors in themselves and as convenient intermediates for other glycosyl donors, such as n-pentenyl glycosides (NPGs), thioglycosides, and trichloroacetimidates. These various donors are activated by different reagents, and are therefore amenable to versatile, discriminate use. Scandium and ytterbium triflates respond very differently to these donors, with the result that chemoselective discrimination between NPOEs, NPGs, trichloroacetimidates as well as ethyl and phenyl thioglycosides can be achieved. Appropriate NPOEs are also able to provide 2,6 and 3,6 diol acceptors via rearrangement or glycoside formation, and these can be used for one-pot, sequential glycosidations based on orthogonal donors, and in situ double differential glycosidations. Thus NPOEs activated by iodonium ion, specifically generated from ytterbium triflate/N-iodosuccinimide, can be used to monoglycosidate the diols rapidly, with exquisite regio, and sometimes chemo, selectivity. The residual NPOE is converted into disarmed NPG, which is refractory to the reaction conditions, and so poses no threat to the free-OH of the monoglycosidation product. Further glycosidation of the latter can then achieved by direct addition of a trichloroacetimidate or ethyl thioglycoside. This basic strategy has been used to prepare a branched chain pentadecamannan. The success is an example of the efficiency of donor/acceptor MATCH concept for regioselective glycosylation.     

Synthesis of Ganglioside Mimics for Binding Studies with Myelin‐Associated Glycoprotein (MAG)*

Glycosylation of 3‐O‐unprotected 2‐azido‐2‐deoxy‐galactopyranoside (compound 5) with O‐(2,3‐di‐O‐acyl‐4,6‐O‐benzylidene‐D‐galactopyranosyl) trichloroacetimidates (compounds 4A, B) as glycosyl donors afforded β (1–3)‐linked disaccharides (9A, B) in high yield. Removal of the 2,3‐O‐acyl groups and selective 3‐O‐alkylation with α‐benzyloxycarbonyl‐alkyl triflates furnished the protected target molecules, which could be readily transformed into the desired ganglioside mimics.     

Zinc trimethylsilylamide as a mild ammonia equivalent and base for the amination of aryl halides and triflates

[reaction: see text] We report that Zn[N(SiMe(3))(2)](2) is a mild ammonia equivalent and base for the palladium-catalyzed amination of aryl halides and triflates. In contrast to LiN(SiMe(3))(2), the combination of Zn[N(SiMe(3))(2)](2) and LiCl coupled with aryl halides and triflates containing base-sensitive functionality in high yields. In addition, aryl bromides coupled with aryl and alkylamines with the combination of Zn[N(SiMe(3))(2)](2) and LiCl as base. These aminations occurred without racemization of the enolizable stereocenter of an optically active ester.     

Enantioselective alpha-arylation of ketones with aryl triflates catalyzed by difluorphos complexes of palladium and nickel

The asymmetric alpha-arylation of ketones with aryl triflates is described, and the use of this electrophile with nickel and palladium catalysts containing a segphos derivative increases substantially the scope of highly enantioselective arylations of ketone enolates. The combination of aryl triflates as reactant, difluorphos as ligand, palladium catalysts for reactions of electron-neutral or electron-rich aryl triflates, and nickel catalysts for reactions of electron-poor aryl triflates led to a series of alpha-arylations of tetralone, indanone, cyclopentanone, and cyclohexanone derivatives. Enantioselectivities ranged from 70% to 98% with 10 examples over 90%. Systematic studies on these alpha-arylations have revealed a number of factors that affect enantioselectivity. Ligands containing biaryl backbones with smaller dihedral angles generate catalysts that react with higher enantioselectivity than related ligands with larger dihedral angles. In addition, faster rates for reactions of aryl triflates versus those for reactions of aryl bromides allow the alpha-arylations of aryl triflates to be conducted at lower temperatures, and this lower temperature improves enantioselectivity. Finally, studies that compare the enantioselectivities of catalytic reactions to those of stoichiometric reactions of isolated [(segphos)Pd(Ar)(Br)], [(segphos)Pd(Ar)(I)], and [(segphos)Ni(C6H4-4-CN)Br] suggest that catalyst decomposition affects enantioselectivity.     

Dissociative electron attachment to triflates

Gas phase studies of dissociative electron attachment to simple alkyl (CF(3)SO(3)CH(3)) and aryl (C(6)H(5)SO(3)CF(3) and CF(3)SO(3)C(6)H(4)CH(3)) triflates, model molecules of nonionic photoacid generators for modern lithographic applications, were performed. The fragmentation pathways under electron impact below 10 eV were identified by means of crossed electron-molecular beam mass spectrometry. Major dissociation channels involved C-O, S-O, or C-S bond scissions in the triflate moiety leading to the formation of triflate (OTf(-)), triflyl (Tf(-)), or sulfonate (RSO(3)(-)) anions, respectively. A resonance leading to C-O bond breakage and OTf(-) formation in alkyl triflates occurred at electron energies about 0.5 eV lower than the corresponding resonance in aryl triflates. A resonance leading to S-O bond breakage and Tf(-) formation in aryl triflates occurred surprisingly at the same electron energies as C-O bond breakage. In case of alkyl triflates S-O bond breakage required 1.4 eV higher electron energies to occur and proceeded with substantially lower yields than in aryl triflates. C-S bond scission occurred for all presently studied triflates at energies close to 3 eV.     

Unsymmetrical diaryl sulfones and aryl vinyl sulfones through palladium-catalyzed coupling of aryl and vinyl halides or triflates with sulfinic acid salts

The palladium-catalyzed reaction of sulfinic acid salts with a wide variety of aryl and vinyl halides or triflates provides unsymmetrical diaryl sulfones and aryl vinyl sulfones in good to excellent yields. The reaction is strongly influenced by the presence of nBu4NCl, and the use of Xantphos, a rigid bidentate ligand with a wide natural bite angle, was found to be crucial for the success of the reaction. With neutral, electron-rich, and electron-poor aryl iodides best results were obtained by using Pd2(dba)3, Xantphos, Cs2CO3, and nBu4NCl, in toluene at 80 degrees C. Two general procedures were employed with aryl bromides and triflates: sodium p-toluenesulfinate, Pd2(dba)3, Xantphos, Cs2CO3, 120 degrees C, in toluene with nBu4NCl (procedure A: neutral, electron-rich, and slightly electron-poor aryl bromides or triflates) and without nBu4NCl (procedure B: electron-poor aryl bromides or triflates). With vinyl triflates best results were obtained at 60 degrees C omitting nBu4NCl.     

Scope of direct arylation of fluorinated aromatics with aryl sulfonates

The scope and limitations of direct arylation of fluorinated aromatics with aryl sulfonates was examined. Pd(OAc)(2), in the presence of MePhos and KOAc in THF, efficiently catalyzed the direct arylation of fluoro aromatics with aryl triflates under ambient conditions. Sterically hindered triflates and heteroaryl triflates gave good to excellent yields of the cross coupled products using a modified catalyst system which involves Pd(OAc)(2)-RuPhos at 100 °C. The direct arylation of electron deficient arenes with aryl mesylates is also established using Pd(OAc)(2)-SPhos as the catalyst in toluene-(t)BuOH at 120 °C.     

Water soluble lanthanoid benzoate complexes for the kinetic separation of cis/trans-limonene oxide

A new class of water soluble, environmentally friendly, lanthanoid 3,5-diacetamidobenzoate complexes (Ln = La, Gd, Yb) have been synthesized. The La and Gd complexes selectively catalyse hydrolysis of the cis-isomer of limonene oxide allowing for the separation of the trans-isomer (>98:2 dr) in up to 74% yield. Comparative studies with the corresponding chlorides and triflates reveal the lanthanoid benzoate complexes to be more active than the chlorides, but less active, though more selective, than the triflates.