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.     

Synthesis of homochiral 2-C-perfluoroalkyl substituted d- and l-riboses

Homochiral 2-C-perfluoroalkyl substituted d- and l-riboses were synthesized via Barbier, Grignard and Ruppert type reactions. The influence of the size of the perfluoroalkyl groups, attached to C-2, on the furanose/pyranose as well as on the α-furanose/β-furanose and α-pyranose/β-pyranose ratio in solution was studied.     

New building blocks for peptide and depsipeptide synthesis: hexafluoroacetone protected l-homoisoserine and d,l-homoisocysteine derivatives

Efficient syntheses of l-homoisoserine and d,l-homoisocysteine derivatives starting from l-malic and d,l-thiomalic acid using hexafluoroacetone as protecting and activating agent are described. The new compounds are interesting building blocks for the preparation of non-natural peptides and depsipeptides as well as for the construction of new GABA derivatives.     

One-pot inversion of d-mannono-1,4-lactone for the practical synthesis of l-ribose

l-Ribose was synthesized in a concise manner from d-mannono-1,4-lactone using one-pot inversion conditions. Treatment of d-mannono-1,4-lactone with piperidine, followed by mesylation-induced S_N2-type O-alkylation, afforded the desired one-pot inversion in an optimum yield, and the following straightforward transformations provided l-ribose in good yields.     

Improved synthesis of 6-amino-6-deoxy-d-galactono-1,6-lactam and d-mannono-1,6-lactam from corresponding unprotected d-hexono-1,4-lactones

Regioselective bromination of unprotected d-galactono-1,4-lactone and d-mannono-1,4-lactone with PPh₃/CBr₄ led to 6-bromo-6-deoxy derivatives. These intermediates were treated with LiN₃ and hydrogenated to give 6-amino-6-deoxy-d-galactono-1,6-lactam (8) and 6-amino-6-deoxy-d-mannono-1,6-lactam (13) in 74 and 67% overall yield, respectively.     

Amperometric simultaneous sensing system for d-glucose and l-lactate based on enzyme-modified bilayer electrodes

An amperometric biosensor system which uses screen-printed electrodes to simultaneously detect d-glucose and l-lactate has been developed and applied for simple and rapid determination of d-glucose and l-lactate levels in lactic fermenting beverages. The system was constructed from three-dimensionally layered electrodes. Taking into consideration the effects of easily oxidized substances contained in the samples, ferricyanide ions, which are electrochemically oxidized at a lower voltage, were chosen as a mediator. A linear relationship between steady-state current and concentration was found over a range of 1-100 mM (d-glucose) and 1-50 mM (l-lactate); the variation coefficients were 1.43% (n = 10) and 3.50% (n = 10) for the d-glucose and l-lactate sensors, respectively. When applied to lactic fermenting beverages, there was good agreement between the results obtained by the proposed sensing system and those obtained by the HPLC method. Using the proposed method, assays were completed within 5 min.     

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.     

Novel practical synthesis of d-cycloserine

The synthesis of d-cycloserine has been successfully accomplished from the readily available d-serine through three simple and efficient routes. In each synthetic strategy, cyclization reactions are involved as the key step, and one-pot processes are employed. The simple treatment and mild reaction conditions are attractive features in this methodology.     

Racemization behavior of l,l-lactide during heating

To control the depolymerization process of poly(l-lactic acid) into l,l-lactide for feedstock recycling, the racemization of l,l-lactide as a post-depolymerization reaction was investigated. In the absence of a catalyst, the conversion to meso-lactide increased with increase in the heating temperature and time at a higher rate than the conversion into oligomers. The resulting high composition of meso-lactide suggests that the direct racemization of l,l-lactide had occurred in addition to the known racemization mechanism that occurs on the oligomer chains. In the presence of MgO, the oligomerization rapidly proceeded to reach an equilibrium state between monomers and oligomers. The equilibrium among l,l-, meso-, and d,d-lactides was found to be a convergent composition ratio l,l-:meso-:d,d-lactides = 1:1.22:0.99 (wt/wt/wt) after 120 min at 300 °C. This composition ratio also indicates that in addition to the known racemization reaction on the oligomer chains, direct racemization among the lactides is also a frequent occurrence.     

A general strategy for the stereoselective synthesis of l-1-deoxyallonojirimycin and d-1-deoxygulonojirimycin

A general strategy for the synthesis of deoxyazasugars from d-glucose is described. Ring-closing metathesis and stereoselective dihydroxylation reactions were used as key steps.     

Selection of synthetic receptors capable of sensing the difference in binding of d-Ala-d-Ala or d-Ala-d-Lac ligands by screening of a combinatorial CTV-based library

Screening of a combinatorial CTV-based artificial, synthetic receptor library 1 {1-13, 1-13, 1-13} for binding of a variety d-Ala-d-Ala and d-Ala-d-Lac containing ligands (6-11) was carried out in phosphate buffer (0.1 N, pH=7.0). After screening and Edman sequencing, synthetic receptors were found containing amino acid sequences, which are either characteristic for binding dye labeled d-Ala-d-Ala or d-Ala-d-Lac containing ligands. For example, receptors capable of binding d-Ala-d-Ala containing ligands 6, 7, 9 and 11 contained—almost in all cases—at least one basic amino acid residue—predominantly Lys—in their arms. This was really a striking difference with the arms of the receptors capable of binding d-Ala-d-Lac containing ligands 8 and 10, which usually contained a significant number of polar amino acids (Gln and Ser), especially in ligand 8, but hardly any basic amino acids. Use of different (fluorescent) dye labels showed that the label has a profound, albeit not decisive, influence on the binding by the receptor. A hit from the screening of the CTV-library with FITC-peptidoglycan (6) was selected for resynthesis and validation.     

Total synthesis of (+)-lentiginosine from d-glucose

A total synthesis of (+)-lentiginosine, a potent and selective amyloglucosidase inhibitor, is reported from a d-glucose-derived epoxide in 38% overall yield. In this synthesis, ambient conditions and readily available starting materials and reagents are used.     

Total synthesis of d-(+)-biotin

A total synthesis of d-(+)-biotin is described starting from d-(+)-glucosamine using acyliminium chemistry.     

Synthesis of l,l-puromycin

l,l-Puromycin, a diastereomer of the natural peptidyl nucleoside antibiotic puromycin, has been synthesized from l-xylose in 13 steps.     

A d,l-proline catalyzed diastereoselective trimolecular condensation: an approach to the one-pot synthesis of perhydrofuro[3,2-b]pyran-5-ones

d,l-Proline was found to catalyze efficiently the one-pot trimolecular condensation of indoles, a sugar hydroxyaldehyde, and Meldrum’s acid followed by intramolecular cyclization with evolution of carbon dioxide and elimination of acetone to afford 7-(1H-3-indolyl)-2,3-dimethoxyperhydrofuro[3,2-b]pyran-5-ones. The reaction proceeded cleanly at ambient temperature to afford the products in good yields with high diastereoselectivity.     

Characterization and release of triptolide-loaded poly (d,l-lactic acid) nanoparticles

Triptolide (TP), which has immunosuppressive effect, anti-neoplastic activity, anti-fertility function and severe toxicities on digestive, urogenital, blood circulatory system, was used as a model drug in this study. TP-loaded poly (d,l-lactic acid) (PLA) nanoparticles were prepared by the modified spontaneous emulsification solvent diffusion method (modified-SESD method). Dynamic light scattering system (DLS), transmission electron microscope (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray powder diffractometry and Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FT-IR) were employed to characterize the nanoparticles fabricated for size and size distribution, surface morphology, the physical state of drug in nanoparticles, and the interaction between the drug and polymer. Encapsulation efficiency (EE) and the in vitro release of TP in nanoparticles were measured by the reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The produced nanoparticles exhibited a narrow size distribution with a mean size of approximately 150 nm and polydispersity index of 0.088. The morphology of the nanoparticles exhibited a fine spherical shape with smooth surfaces without aggregation or adhesion. TP-entrapped in nanoparticles was found in the form of amorphous or semicrystalline. It was found that a weak interaction existed between the drug and polymer. In all experiments, more than 65% of EE were obtained. The in vitro release profile of TP from nanoparticles exhibited a typical biphasic release phenomenon, namely initial burst release and consequently sustained release. In this case, the particle size played an important role for the drug release. The modified-SESD method was a potential and advantage method to produce an ideal polymer nanoparticles for drug delivery system (DDS).     

New low-molecular weight gelators based on l-valine and l-isoleucine with various terminal groups

New low-molecular weight gelators based on l-valine and l-isoleucine, which have various terminal groups such as ester, carboxyl, and carboxylate, function as a good organogelator that form an organogel in many organic solvents. In addition, the sodium salt compounds form not only organogels but also a hydrogel in the presence of a cationic surfactant.     

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.     

Swelling and hydrolytic degradation of poly(d,l-lactic acid) in aqueous solutions

Low molecular weight poly(lactic acid) was synthesized by direct polycondensation of lactic acid. The oligomers were characterized by viscometry, light scattering, and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The swelling behaviour of tablets made of the above polymer immersed in buffer solutions at 37 °C was studied. In the same experiments, the hydrolytic stability of d,l-PLA was assessed by measuring the weight loss after drying the tablets. In order to inhibit any degradation due to bacteria, formaldehyde was added in the solution as biostatic factor. The effect of an incorporated drug on the swelling behaviour of d,l-PLA tablets was also considered. It was found that the incorporation of drug in d,l-PLA tablets increases their swelling index, probably due to the creation of additional porosity in the specimens or other interaction between drug and polymeric matrix.     

Synthesis of 6-amino-6-deoxy-d-gulono-1,6-lactam and l-gulono-1,6-lactam derived from corresponding 5,6-O-sulfinyl hexono-1,4-lactones

Syntheses of 6-amino-6-deoxy-2,3-O-isopropylidene-d-gulono- and l-gulono-1,6-lactams 3 and 4 from corresponding glycono-1,4-lactones are described. Activation of the primary hydroxyl group requires 5,6-cyclic sulfite intermediate to obtain 6-azido-6-deoxy derivatives, which are cyclized after reduction.