Highly efficient stereoselective synthesis of d-erythro-sphingosine and d-lyxo-phytosphingosine

Starting from a single suitable functionalised epoxide, a highly efficient stereoselective synthesis of d-erythro-sphingosine and d-lyxo-phytosphingosine is described. The approach allows the formal preparation of all stereoisomers of these sphingoid structures.     

A common approach to the total synthesis of l-arabino-, l-ribo-C18-phytosphingosines, ent-2-epi-jaspine B and 3-epi-jaspine B from d-mannose

A common strategy for the total syntheses of the protected l-arabino- and l-ribo-C₁₈-phytosphingosine (8 and 9, respectively), HCl salts of ent-2-epi-jaspine B (ent-6) and 3-epi-jaspine B (7) with efficient use of both flexible building blocks 26 and 27 was achieved. The key step of this approach was [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of allylic trichloroacetimidate 21 and thiocyanate 22, which were derived from the known 2,3:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-d-mannofuranose 18 as the source of chirality. The side chain functionality was installed utilizing a Wittig reaction.     

Enantiodivergent total synthesis of microcarpalide from l-tartaric acid

Stereoselective approach for the synthesis of both enantiomers of bio-active decanolactone microcarpalide is described from l-tartaric acid. The synthesis of the key intermediates en route to the natural product is achieved from l-tartaric acid involving the elaboration of γ-hydroxy amide derived from tartaric acid and ring opening of an epoxide derived from tartaric acid.     

An efficient synthesis of d-ribo-C18-phytosphingosine and l-arabino-C18-phytosphingosine from d-fructose

d-ribo-C₁₈-phytosphingosine and l-arabino-C₁₈-phytosphingosine were synthesised starting from commercially inexpensive d-fructose. Metal-mediated fragmentation and stereoselective reduction were used as key steps to provide the hydrophilic portion of d-ribo and l-arabino phytosphingosines. Grubbs’ cross-metathesis and hydrogenation allowed the incorporation of hydrophobic tail.     

Total synthesis of natural cis-3-hydroxy-l-proline from d-glucose

Synthesis of cis-3-hydroxy-l-proline from d-glucose is reported. The methodology involves conversion of d-glucose into N-benzyloxycarbonyl-γ-alkenyl amine which on 5-endo-trig-aminomercuration gave the pyrrolidine ring skeleton with sugar appendage in 25% yield. Alternatively, N-benzyloxycarbonyl-γ-alkenyl amine on hydroboration-oxidation, mesylation and intramolecular S_N2 cyclisation afforded pyrrolidine ring compound in high yield. Hydrolysis of 1,2-acetonide functionality, NaIO₄ cleavage followed by oxidation of an aldehyde into acid and hydrogenolysis afforded cis-3-hydroxy-l-proline in overall 29% yield from d-glucose.     

Synthesis of d-gluco-, l-ido-, d-galacto-, and l-altro-configured glycaro-1,5-lactams from tartaric acid

The d-gluco-, l-ido-, d-galacto-, and l-altro-configured glycaro-1,5-lactams 1-4 were prepared from the known tartaric anhydride 5 via the aldehyde 6. These lactams are known (1) or potential (2-4) inhibitors of β-d-glucuronidases and α-l-iduronidases. Olefination of 6 to the (E)- and (Z)-alkenes 7 or 8, followed by reagent or substrate controlled dihydroxylation, lactonization, azidation, reduction, and deprotection led in 10 steps and in overall yields of 11-20% to the title lactams.     

An efficient synthesis of 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-d- and l-arabinitol and 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-d- and l-xylitol from chiral aziridines

A highly efficient method for the synthesis of 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-d- and l-arabinitol (d-AB1, 1 and l-AB1, 3) and 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-d- and l-xylitol (d-DIX, 2 and l-DIX, 4) starting from commercially available chiral aziridines was developed. The general strategy employs a sequence involving two-carbon homologation, dihydroxylation, and regioselective aziridine ring opening/intramolecular five-membered iminosugar ring formation. The facile use of recrystallization to generate pure diastereomers makes the routes more amenable to large-scale synthesis.     

A new diorganozinc-based enantioselective access to truncated d-ribo-phytosphingosine

The use of a trans α,β-epoxyaldehyde as a precursor of d-ribo-phytosphingosines was studied. The highly stereoselective alkylation of the aldehyde with a diorganozinc reagent was ensured through double asymmetric induction. The regioselective opening of the epoxide in turn gives access to an azide from which a C₁₀ phytosphingosine can be easily prepared.     

A convenient synthesis of l-ribose from d-fructose

An efficient method for the stereoselective synthesis of l-ribose was accomplished starting from commercially inexpensive d-fructose. The intermediates in the process can serve as versatile precursors for the preparation of l-nucleoside analogues.     

A highly efficient synthesis of unnatural l-sugars from d-ribose

A preparative and short synthesis of l-ribose and l-apiose was accomplished starting from d-ribose via stereoselective cis-dihydroxylation and C2-hydroxymethylation, respectively. These l-sugars can serve as versatile intermediates for the synthesis of l-nucleosides.     

Enantioselective synthesis of d- and l-α-methylcysteine with hydantoinase

A scalable and cost-effective synthesis of d- and l-α-methylcysteine is described. A key step is d-selective cyclization of N-carbamoyl S-tert-butyl-d,l-α-methylcysteine catalyzed by hydantoinase. d-5-tert-Butylthiomethyl-5-methylhydantoin and N-carbamoyl S-tert-butyl-l-α-methylcysteine were obtained with excellent yield and optical purity, and these compounds were easily separated by filtration. After hydrolysis and cleavage of the tert-butyl group, d- and l-α-methylcysteine hydrochloride were obtained.     

Synthesis of phytosphingosine using olefin cross-metathesis: a convenient access to chain-modified phytosphingosines from d-lyxose

This work establishes a general protocol for synthesizing phytosphingosines with various lengths of lipid chains. The synthetic strategy included the Wittig reaction and olefin cross-metathesis as key steps. Combining these two C-C bond formation methods provide rapid access to adequately protected phytosphingosine backbones.     

Novel synthesis of 5-thio-hexopyranoside: preparation of 5-thio-d- and l-glucose and 1,6-anhydro-5-thio-l- and d-altrose

Asymmetric synthesis of both d- and l-isomers of 5-thioglucose and 1,6-anhydro-5-thioaltrose are described. The key intermediates, l- and d-threose diethylacetal derivatives, were derived by chemical transformation from d-xylose or d-arabinose and by Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation from γ-hydroxycrotylaldehyde diethylacetal. They transformed to γ-thiiranyl diethylacetal via trans-2,3-epoxy alcohol in seven steps. Acetic acid-promoted cyclization of γ-thiiranyl diethylacetal gave 5-thiopyranoside. Removal of the protected groups under the acidic conditions afforded 5-thio-d- and l-glucose and 1,6-anhydro-5-thio-l- and d-altrose, respectively.     

From d-xylose to a d-glycero-l-altrose derivative

A key intermediate corresponding to a rare sugar framework has been synthesized, starting from d-xylose, an inexpensive carbohydrate. This approach gave access to new elaborated sugar moieties for structure–activity relationships in the KRN research.     

A convenient approach to total synthesis of synargentolide-B from l-ascorbic acid and d-ribose

A convenient and practical approach for the total synthesis of naturally occurring lactone synargentolide-B has been accomplished in 14 steps from the commercially available l-ascorbic acid and d-ribose involving Bestmann–Ohira reaction, zinc mediated allylation, ring closing-metathesis, and cross-metathesis reactions. The highlight of our strategy describes a one-pot reaction involving stereoselective addition of allylzinc reagent and selective reduction of terminal alkyne to obtain the key advanced intermediates.     

Stereoselective synthesis of safingol and its natural stereoisomer from d-glycals

Efficient and convenient syntheses of (2S,3S)-safingol and its natural (2S,3R)-isomer have been developed from 3,4,6-tri-O-benzyl glycals. The key step is the one-pot reduction of an azide, saturation of the double bonds and debenzylation under catalytic hydrogenation.     

Stereoselective synthesis of 3-glycosyl-5-methoxycarbonyl-isoxazolidines from d-galactose and d-glucose

Regio- and stereoselective cycloaddition of methyl acrylate to C-glycosyl nitrones derived from d-galactose and d-glucose, giving 5-methoxycarbonyl-3-(pentoglycos-5-yl or pentitol-1-yl)isoxazolidines, is reported. Transformation of one of them into a 4-hydroxy-2-(pentoglycos-5-yl)pyrrolidine derivative, potentially useful in a route to polyhydroxy-perhydroazaazulenes, was achieved.     

An efficient approach to d-threo-3-hydroxyaspartic acid for the synthesis of novel l-threo-oxazolines as selective blockers of glutamate reversed uptake

An efficient, stereoselective synthetic strategy to d-threo-3-hydroxyaspartic acid was developed. Starting from l-(2S,3S)-N-benzoyl-3-hydroxyaspartic acid dimethyl ester by a Deoxo-fluor-catalyzed cyclization reaction, an inversion of configuration at the β-center (erythro isomer), was observed. A base-induced epimerization reaction led to the d-trans-isomer, which was hydrolyzed to give d-threo-3-hydroxyaspartic acid with excellent stereoselectivity and overall yield. Starting from d-threo-3-hydroxyaspartic acid, l-threo-oxazolines can be stereoselectively synthesized.     

Asymmetric syntheses of the methyl glycosides of 2-deoxy-2-aminohexoses: d-allosamine, d-mannosamine, d-idosamine and d-talosamine

A range of the methyl glycosides of 2-deoxy-2-aminohexoses, comprising d-allosamine, d-mannosamine, d-idosamine and d-talosamine, were prepared from the corresponding d-aldopentoses via a seven step synthetic sequence. The doubly diastereoselective conjugate addition of the requisite antipode of lithium N-benzyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide and in situ enolate oxidation with the requisite antipode of camphorsulfonyloxaziridine (CSO) was used as the key, stereodefining step. Sequential reduction of the resultant α-hydroxy-β-amino esters and oxidative cleavage of the C(1)–C(2) diol unit furnished the corresponding α-amino aldehydes. Subsequent N- and O-deprotection gave the target compounds (as mixtures of anomers) in good yield and high diastereoisomeric purity.     

An efficient synthesis of l-allono-1,4-lactone from 2,3:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-d-mannono-1,4-lactone

We reported herein an efficient synthesis of l-allono-1,4-lactone from 2,3:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-d-mannono-1,4-lactone in five steps. The key feature of this method involved a one-pot, ‘double inversion’ procedure at the stereocenters of C-4 and C-5 of d-mannono-1,4-lactone to afford the target molecule.