Design and synthesis of a novel ring-expanded 4′-thio-apio-nucleoside derivatives

The synthesis of a ring-expanded 4′-thio-apio-nucleoside derivative 4, designed to serve as a potential anti-HIV agent, is described. The epoxy alcohol derivative 10, prepared from 2-butene-1,4-diol, was converted to an allylsulfide derivative 13 in 3 steps. Ring-closing-metathesis of 13 gave the dihydrothiopyran derivative 20, which was further converted into sulphoxide 24. A Pummerer-type thioglycosylation reaction of 24 with a persilylated uracil derivative, followed by conversion to a cytosine derivative and deprotection, gave a racemic mixture of the ring-expanded 4′-thio-apio-nucleoside derivative 4 in good yield.     

Synthesis of 1-(5,6-dihydro-2H-thiopyran-2-yl)uracil by a Pummerer-type thioglycosylation reaction: the regioselectivity of allylic substitution

1-(5,6-Dihydro-2H-thiopyran-2-yl)uracil derivatives, a new 4′-thio-D4-nucleoside analogue, were synthesized by reacting 5,6-dihydro-2H-thiopyran sulfoxide and persilylated uracil in a Pummerer-type thioglycosylation reaction. The reaction of 5-alkyl substituted dihydrothiopyran sulfoxide 7 only gave 1-(dihydrothiopyran-2-yl)uracil 9. On the other hand, the reaction with a 5-siloxy substituted derivative of 7 resulted in a mixture of products with the uracil moiety at either the α- or the γ-position. The use of a prolonged reaction time resulted in the exclusive formation of the 4-substituted dihydrothiopyran derivative 10. The result suggests that an equilibrium is operative in the formation of the α- and γ-adducts and that the latter should be more thermodynamically stable than the former. This conclusion was also supported by theoretical calculations.     

First synthesis of enantio-uracil dinucleotide, comparison of physicochemical properties of their enantiomers, and separation by chiral column chromatography

Enantio-uracil dinucleotide 5, which consists of two l-uridylic acids and one pyrophosphate, was synthesized for the first time in our laboratory. Benzolyated l-uridine was prepared by a stereoselective glycosylation of silylated uracil with l-1-O-acetyl-2,3,5-tri-O-benzoylribose (l-ABR 7). After deprotection, l-uridine 9 was converted to P¹,P⁴-di(l-uridine 5′-) tetraphosphate tetrasodium salt (l-UP₄U 5) by treatment of l-UMP morpholidate 10c with triethylammonium pyrophosphate (TEA-PPi 11b). Spectral data of synthesized l-UP₄U 5 are given in the references. All spectral data were identical with those of UP₄U 3 except the specific rotation, which showed a positive value compared to UP₄U 3 having a negative value. Furthermore, the separation by chiral column chromatography was investigated.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro-4′-thioribonucleosides: substrates for the synthesis of novel modified RNAs

We report herein the synthesis of appropriately protected 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro-4′-thiouridine (5), -thiocytidine (7), and -thioadenosine (35) derivatives, substrates for the synthesis of novel modified RNAs. The synthesis of 5 and 7 was achieved via the reaction of 2,2′-O-anhydro-4′-thiouridine (3) with HF/pyridine in a manner similar to that of its 4′-O-congener whereas the synthesis of 35 from 4′-thioadenosine derivatives was unsuccessful. Accordingly, 35 was synthesized via the glycosylation of the fluorinated 4-thiosugar 25 with 6-chloropurine. The X-ray crystal structural analysis revealed that 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro-4′-thiocytidine (8) adopted predominately the same C3′-endo conformation as 2′-deoxy-2′-fluorocytidine.     

Amberlyst 15 catalyzed synthesis of indole-pyrazole based tri(hetero)arylmethanes

An expedient synthesis of 1,3-diaryl-4-(3,3′-diindolyl)methylpyrazoles 3a-m has been developed using Amberlyst 15 catalyzed condensation of 1,3-diaryl-4-formyl pyrazoles 2 with indoles 1. This reaction was further extended to the synthesis of 4,4′-bis(3,3′-diindolyl)methylphenoxy-alkanes 5a-b by coupling of 4,4′-di(formylphenoxy)alkane 4 with indole 1.     

Synthesis of (±)-5′-methoxyhydnocarpin-D, an inhibitor of the Staphylococcus aureus multidrug resistance pump

The total synthesis of regioisomerically pure (±)-5′-methoxyhydnocarpin-D (6) from commercially available vanillin (7), methyl gallate (9) and 2′,4′,6′-trihydroxyaceophenone (10) is achieved.     

Optimized synthesis of LNA uracil nucleosides

A short, very high yielding, and practical synthesis of LNA uracil diol 6 has been developed from the easily accessible glycosyl donor 1. The concluding O3′-debenzylation of 5 resulted in significant reduction of the uracil moiety with many typical debenzylation conditions, while catalytic transfer hydrogenation using Pd(OH)₂/C and formic acid largely suppressed this undesired side reaction. Facile access to 6 will allow full exploration of RNA-based LNA-technology applications, including polymerase-catalyzed synthesis of LNA-modified RNA-strands.     

Synthesis of new acyclic nucleoside phosphonates (ANPs) substituted on the 1′ and/or 2′ positions

A series of 2′ functionalized acyclic nucleoside phosphonate derivatives of 1-[3′-(phosphonomethoxy)propyl]uracil (1-4) have been synthesized together with the 1′ and 2′-ethynyl derivatives of 9/1-[2′-(phosphonomethoxy)ethyl]adenine/thymine (5-7). Key intermediates leading to the latter series are (±)-[2-{diethyl(phosphonomethoxy)}-1-hydroxy]-but-3-yne (25) and (±)-diisopropyl{[2-hydroxy-4-(trimethylsilyl)but-3-yn-1-yl]oxy}methylphosphonate (30). Compounds 25 and 30 are easily obtained starting from (±)-solketal.     

Efficient synthesis of novel dipyridoimidazoles and pyrido[1′,2′;1,2]imidazo[4,5-d]pyridazine derivatives

Novel dipyrido[1,2-a;3′,4′-d]imidazoles 7a-d, dipyrido[1,2-a;4′,3′-d]imidazoles 8a,c and pyrido[1′,2′;1,2]imidazo[4,5-d]pyridazine derivatives 9a-d were synthesized by two pathways: thermal electrocyclic reaction of 3-alkenylimidazopyridine-2-oximes 10 and direct condensation of ethyl glycinate (or hydrazine) with 2,3-dicarbonylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines 11.     

Iterative two-step strategy for C2-C4′ linked poly-oxazole synthesis using Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction

An iterative method for the synthesis of C2-C4′ linked poly-oxazoles has been developed. This efficient two-step repetitive process includes TBS-iodine exchange reaction and Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction with oxazolylboronate 8, which allows appending a bis-oxazole moiety per each iteration. The synthesis of bis-, tris-, tetrakis-, pentakis-, and hexakis-oxazoles (10, 14, 22, 18, and 24) was achieved starting from the common intermediate 7 in 1-5 steps.     

Synthesis of novel 4′-C-methyl-1′,3′-dioxolane pyrimidine nucleosides and evaluation of its anti-HIV-1 activity

The key glycosyl donor for the target molecule 12 was prepared by two-step sequences; (1) acetalization of tert-butyldimethylsilyloxyacetaldehyde with 3-bromopropanediol, (2) DBN-initiated β-elimination of the resulting 2-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)methyl-4-bromomethyl-1,3-dioxolane 11. Electrophilic glycosidation between 12 and silylated pyrimidine nucleobase proceeded efficiently to provide a mixture of β- and α-anomers of the respective glycosides 14 and 15. Tin radical-mediated reduction of the bromomethyl functional group of 14 and 15 gave protected 4′-C-methyl-dioxorane uracil- 16 and thymine nucleoside 17. The respective cytosine nucleoside 18 was synthesized from 16. De-silylation of 4′-methyl-1′,3′-dioxolane pyrimidine nucleosides 16–18 gave the target molecules. Evaluation of the anti-HIV-1 activity of the β- and α-anomers of the novel 4′-C-methyl-1′,3′-dioxolane nucleosides 22β,α–24β,α revealed that none of the nucleoside derivatives possess anti-viral activity against HIV-1 and show cytotoxicity against MT-4 cells at 100 μM.     

Total synthesis of prolycopene, a novel 7,9,7′,9′-tetra-cis(Z) carotenoid and main pigment of the tangerine tomato Lycopersicon esculentum

A total synthesis of the 7,9,7′,9′-tetra-cis(Z) isomer of lycopene, also known as ‘prolycopene’, produced as the major carotenoid pigment in fruits of the tangerine tomato Lycopersicon esculentum (‘Tangella’) is described. The synthesis is based on: (i) a modified Sonogashira coupling reaction between the E-alkenyl bromide 6 and the Z-enynol 7, leading to the 2Z-trienynol 8, followed by (ii) a Wittig reaction between the phosphonium salt 4 and the C₁₀-triene dialdehyde 5 producing the symmetrical 9,9′-Z isomer of the bis-acetylene 3 and (iii) semi-hydrogenation of 3 in the presence of Lindlar's catalyst, and chromatography.     

Efficient synthesis of brominated tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) derivatives: solid-state structure and electrochemical behaviour

An efficient synthesis is reported for 4,5-dibromo-[1,3]dithiole-2-thione (1) and 4-bromo-1,3-dithiole-2-thione (7) by bromination of lithiated vinylene trithiocarbonate. Compound 1 acts as a convenient precursor to a number of asymmetric electron donors. This is exemplified by the formation of 4,5-dibromo-4′,5′-bis(2′-cyanoethylsulfanyl)TTF (3) by cross-coupling methodology and subsequent conversion into 4,5-dibromo-4′,5′-ethylenedithioTTF (4) by reaction with caesium hydroxide and 1,2-dibromoethane. The new donor 4,5-dibromo-4′,5′-ethylenedithiodiselenadithiafulvalene (5) was prepared by cross-coupling of 1 and 4,5-ethylenedithio-1,3-diselenol-2-one (6). The X-ray structures of 3 and 5 are reported.     

Conformational chirality and chiral crystallization of N-sulfonylpyrimidine derivatives

New N-sulfonylpyrimidine derivatives 1-(p-toluenesulfonyl)uracil (1), 1-(p-toluenesulfonyl)thymine (2), 5-bromo-1-(p-toluenesulfonyl)uracil (3), 1-(methanesulfonyl)uracil (4), 1-(1-naphthylsulfonyl)uracil (5), and 1-(1-naphthylsulfonyl)thymine (6) were prepared by the condensation reaction of silylated pyrimidine derivatives with selected sulfonyl chlorides in acetonitrile. Some members of the series showed unexpected crystal properties as a consequence of their conformational chirality in the solid state. Compounds 1 and 5 exhibited chiral crystallization, which was, in the case of 1, accompanied by the formation of racemically twinned crystals regardless of the solvent used, while 5 gave a conglomerate of enantiomorphous crystals. For 2, 3, and 6, substituents at the C-5 position of the pyrimidine ring prevented chiral crystallization by influencing the crystal packing. Analysis of the crystal structures of 1, 4, and 5, reveals the influence of the arylsulfonyl group on the occurrence or absence of chiral crystallization.     

An efficient synthesis of 4,4′,5,5′-tetraiododibenzo-24-crown-8 and its highly conjugated derivatives

4,4′,5,5′-Tetraiododibenzo-24-crown-8 (9), a practical building block, was prepared under efficient and mild reaction conditions starting from the simple starting material, catechol (1). Highly conjugated 4,4′,5,5′-tetraethynyldibenzo-24-crown-8 (10a,b) were prepared via a Sonogashira coupling reaction from tetraiodocrown ether 9. These highly conjugated crown ethers form complexes in CD₂Cl₂ with dibenzylammonium hexafluorophosphate in a 1:1 ratio. Emission spectrum of pseudorotaxane 11 shows a dramatic shift from the non-complexed precursor.     

Synthesis of 4′-benzoyloxycordycepin from adenosine

With an aim to synthesize 4′-substituted cordycepins, the 4′-benzoyloxy precursor (9) was prepared from adenosine through an electrophilic addition (iodo-benzoyloxylation) to the 4′,5′-unsaturated derivative (5) and subsequent radical-mediated removal of the 3′-iodine atom of the resulting adducts (6). Usefulness of 9 was briefly verified by synthesizing the 4′-allyl (12) and 4′-cyano (13) analogues of cordycepin.     

Application and details of photoinduced oxidative cyclization of 5-(4′,9′-methanocycloundeca-2′,4′,6′,8′,10′-pentaenylidene)pyrimidine-2,4,6(1,3,5H)-triones and related compounds

As novel methodology for synthesizing the furan ring, a photoinduced oxidative cyclization of 5-(4′,9′-methanocycloundeca-2′,4′,6′,8′,10′-pentaenylidene)pyrimidine-2,4,6(1,3,5H)-triones (7a-c) and related compounds 9a-c was accomplished to give 5,10-methanocycloundeca[4,5]furo[2,3-d]pyrimidine-2,4(1,3H)-dionylium tetrafluoroborates (8a-c⁺·BF₄⁻) and related compounds 2a-c⁺·BF₄⁻, respectively. In the photoinduced oxidative cyclization, the molecular oxygen in air is used as oxidant and the reaction proceeds under mild conditions to give desired products without byproducts, and thus, it is interesting from the viewpoint of the green chemistry. On the reactions of the mono-substituted derivatives 7d,e and 9e,f, the selectivity of the photoinduced cyclizations were reversed as compared with those of the DDQ-promoted oxidative cyclizations. By the NMR monitoring of the reactions of 7a and deuterated compound 7a-D₂ under degassed conditions, the details of the reaction pathway were clarified and rationalized on the basis of the MO calculation by the 6-31G^∗ basis set of the MP2 levels as well.     

Synthesis of 2′-β-C-methyl-neplanocin derivatives as anti-HCV agents

The synthesis of 2′-β-C-methyl-neplanocin derivatives is described. The key intermediate cyclopentenyl alcohol 12 is prepared from sugar 5 in 12 steps. Coupling of 12 with appropriately protected purine, 7-deaza pyrimidine, uracil and pyrimidine bases via the Mitsunobu reaction followed by deprotection afforded the target cyclopentenyl nucleosides (18-23, 27). The synthesized compounds were evaluated as potential inhibitors of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) in vitro. Unfortunately, none of them show anti-HCV activity below EC₅₀ 100 μM.     

Synthesis of variolin B

The total synthesis of variolin B from 4-methoxy-7-azaindole is described. The preparation of the protected amino derivative 10 and a coupling reaction of the iodo derivative 12 with 2-acetylamino-4-trimethylstannylpyrimidine are the key steps of the sequence. The use of N-tosyldichloromethanimine for the cyclisation step afforded a good entry to the 9-aminopyrido[3′,2′:4,5]pyrrolo[1,2-c]pyrimidine system. Variolin B was obtained from the triply protected tetracyclic compound 13 in two steps.     

Synthesis,characterization, and crystal structure of 2′,2″-dihydroxy-3,3‴-bichalcone and its related chalcone–flavanone and biflavanone analogs

The synthesis of 3,3′-diformyl-1,1′-biphenyl 1 and its reaction in basic media with 2′-hydroxyacetophenone and paeonol, respectively, are described. The products, a bichalcone 2, it’s partially cyclized analog, a flavanone–chalcone 3 and the fully cyclized biflavanone 4, are reported as products for the first reaction, while only the chalcone 5 for the second. The crystalline and molecular structure, solved by X-ray diffraction analysis, for compounds 2 and 5 are also presented in this work.