Synthesis of enantiopure 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate and 2,4-cyclodiphosphate from D-arabitol

[reaction: see text] Two key intermediates of the newly discovered mevalonate-independent pathway for isoprenoid biosynthesis were prepared. Optically pure 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate and 2,4-cyclodiphosphate were chemically synthesized from D-arabitol using a convenient benzylidene and tert-butyldimethylsilyl protection of polyhydroxylated intermediates. The new scheme offers a straightforward route to analogues and labeled forms.     

Synthesis of 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate: the first pathway-specific intermediate in the methylerythritol phosphate route to isoprenoids

[reaction: see text] 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate (4), formed from 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate (3), is the first pathway-specific intermediate in the methylerythritol phosphate route for the biosynthesis of isoprenoid compounds in bacteria, algae, and plant chloroplasts. In this report, 4 was synthesized from 1,2-propanediol (7) in seven steps with an overall yield of 32% and in an enantiomeric excess of 78%.     

Involvement of 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol-4-phosphate pathway in biosynthesis of aphidicolin-like tetracyclic diterpene of Scoparia dulcis

Specific inhibitors of the MVA pathway (pravastatin) and the MEP pathway (fosmidomycin) were used to interfere with the biosynthetic flux which leads to the production of aphidicolin-like diterpene in leaf organ cultures of Scoparia dulcis. Treatment of leaf organs with fosmidomycin resulted in dose dependent inhibition of chlorophylls, carotenoids, scopadulcic acid B (SDB) and phytol production, and no effect on sterol production was observed. In response to the pravastatin treatment, a significant decrease in sterol and perturbation of SDB production was observed.     

Synthesis of 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-cyclopyrophosphate

[reaction: see text] The synthesis of 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-cyclopyrophosphate, a biochemical intermediate in the deoxyxylulose pathway of isoprenoid biosynthesis, was accomplished in four steps. Bisphosphorylation of 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 1,3-diacetate, followed by carbodiimide cyclization and deprotection, led to the title compound in 42% overall yield.     

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of 4-diphosphocytidyl-2-C-methyl-d-erythritol: a substrate for IspE

Enantiomerically pure 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol 4-phosphate 1 (MEP) is synthesized from 1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-d-xylofuranose via facile benzylation in good yield. Subsequently, 1 is used for enzymatic synthesis of 4-diphosphocytidyl-2-C-methyl-d-erythritol 2 (CDP-ME) using 4-diphosphocytidyl-2-C-methyl-d-erythritol synthase (IspD). The chemoenzymatically synthesized 2 can be used as substrate for assay of IspE and for high throughput screening to identify IspE inhibitors.     

Synthesis of methylene- and difluoromethylenephosphonate analogues of uridine-4-phosphate and 3-deazauridine-4-phosphate

Cytidine triphosphate synthetase (CTPS) catalyzes the formation of cytidine triphosphate from glutamine, uridine-5'-triphosphate (UTP), and adenosine-5'-triphosphate. Inhibitors of CTPS are of interest because of their potential as therapeutic agents. One approach to potent enzyme inhibitors is to use analogues of high energy intermediates formed during the reaction. The CTPS reaction proceeds via the high energy intermediate UTP-4-phosphate (UTP-4-P). Four novel analogues of uridine-4-phosphate (U-4-P) and 3-deazauridine-4-phosphate (3-deazaU-4-P) were synthesized in which the labile phosphate ester oxygen was replaced with a methylene and difluoromethylene group. The methylene analogue of U-4-P, compound 1, was prepared by a reaction of the sodium salt of tert-butyl diethylphosphonoacetate with protected, 4-O-activated uridine followed by acetate deprotection and decarboxylation. It was found that this compound undergoes relatively facile dephosphonylation presumably via a metaphosphate intermediate. The difluoromethylene derivative, compound 2, was prepared by electrophilic fluorination of protected 1. This compound was stable and did not undergo dephosphonylation. Synthesis of the methylene analogue of 3-deazaU-4-P, compound 3, was achieved by ribosylation of protected 4-(phosphonomethyl)-2-hydroxypyridine. Electrophilic fluorination was also employed in the preparation of protected 4-(phosphonodifluoromethyl)-2-hydroxypyridine which was used as the key building block in the synthesis of difluoro derivative 4. These compounds represent the first examples of a nucleoside in which the base has been chemically modified with a methylene or difluormethylenephosphonate group.     

Formal synthesis of 4-diphosphocytidyl-2-C-methyl d-erythritol from d-(+)-arabitol

2-C-Methyl-d-erythritol-4-phosphate (MEP) is a key chemical intermediate of the non-mevalonate pathway for isoprenoid biosynthesis employed by many pathogenic microbes. MEP is also the precursor for the synthesis of 4-diphosphocytidyl-2-C-methyl d-erythritol (CDP-ME), another key intermediate of the non-mevalonate pathway. As this pathway is non-existent in higher animals, including humans, it represents great opportunities for novel antimicrobial development. To facilitate the in-depth studies of this pathway, we reported here a formal synthesis of CDP-ME through a new synthesis of 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol-4-phosphoric acid from d-(+)-arabitol.     

Synthesis of enantiopure 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol-4-phosphate

The synthesis of enantiopure 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol-4-phosphate is disclosed. A 1,3-diol possessing a quaternary stereogenic centre, prepared stereoselectively from an acyclic tri-substituted alkene, has been utilized as a key intermediate.     

Biosynthesis of terpenoids: efficient multistep biotransformation procedures affording isotope-labeled 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate using recombinant 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate synthase.

This paper describes the recombinant expression of the ispC gene of Escherichia coli specifying 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate synthase in a modified form that can be purified efficiently by metal-chelating chromatography. The enzyme was used for the preparation of isotope-labeled 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate employing isotope-labeled glucose and pyruvate as starting materials. The simple one-pot methods described afford numerous isotopomers of 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate carrying (3)H, (13)C, or (14)C from commercially available precursors. The overall yield based on the respective isotope-labeled starting material is approximately 50%.     

Synthesis of biologically active derivatives of D-glucosamine-4-phosphate and 1-thyminyl-D-glucosamine-4,6-disulfate

New 1-thyminyl-D-glucosamine-4-phosphate and 1-thyminyl-D-glucosamine-4,6-disulfate derivatives were synthesized. The 1-thyminyl-D-glucosamine-4,6-disulfate derivative showed antiviral activity against HIV.     

Synthesis of analogs of pyridoxal 5′-phosphate and pyridoxamine 5′-phosphate

The following analogs of pyridoxamine 5′-phosphate (PAMP) have been synthesized by the direct phosphorylation of the corresponding amines: 2-nor-PAMP, 6-methyl-2-nor-PAMP, and 6-methyl-PAMP. A method for the synthesis of analogs of pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP) by the phosphorylation of the Schiff's bases of the corresponding aldehydes with p-phenetidine and subsequent hydrolysis on a sulfonated resin has been worked out. 2-Nor-PLP, 6-methyl-2-nor-PLP, and 6-methyl-PLP have been obtained with yields of 53–73%. The spectral properties of the compounds obtained have been investigated.     

Synthesis of analogs of pyridoxal 5′-phosphate and pyridoxamine 5′-phosphate

The following analogs of pyridoxamine 5-phosphate (PAMP) have been synthesized by the direct phosphorylation of the corresponding amines: 2-nor-PAMP, 6-methyl-2-nor-PAMP, and 6-methyl-PAMP. A method for the synthesis of analogs of pyridoxal 5-phosphate (PLP) by the phosphorylation of the Schiff's bases of the corresponding aldehydes with p-phenetidine and subsequent hydrolysis on a sulfonated resin has been worked out. 2-Nor-PLP, 6-methyl-2-nor-PLP, and 6-methyl-PLP have been obtained with yields of 53–73%. The spectral properties of the compounds obtained have been investigated.The authors heartily thank Academician A. E. Braunshtein for his constant interest in this work and for valuable advice.     

Synthesis of 4-azacyclopent-2-enones and 5,5-dialkyl-4-azacyclopent-2-enones

Three different methods are reported for the preparation of 4-azacyclo-2-enones 1, two of which allow the preparation of the compounds in optically active form. In addition, a facile route to 4-aza-5,5-dimethylcyclopent-2-enones 2 is disclosed.     

Synthesis and Reactions of 4-cis- and 4-trans-Hydroxy-2e-methyl-4-ethynyl-trans-decahydroquinolines

By treating 2e-methyl-4-oxo-trans-decahydroquinoline with lithium acetylide a mixture of stereoisomeric 4-cis-hydroxy-2e-methyl- and 4-trans-hydroxy-2e-methyl-4-ethynyl-trans-decahydroquinolines was obtained in 3:2 ratio. Their reaction with acetonitrile in the presence of sulfuric acid (Ritter's reaction) results in a mixture of stereoisomeric 4-cis-acetylamino-2e-methyl- and 4-trans-acetylamino-2e-methyl-4-ethynyl-trans-decahydroquinolines in the same ratio. The ethynyl group of alcohols synthesized is not hydrated under conditions of Kuchrerov's reaction. The boiling of the alcohols with formic acid furnished a mixture of 4-acetyl-2e-methyl and 2e-methyl-4-ethynyl-1,2,3,6,7,8,9,10-octahydroquinolines in 1:7 ratio. The former of these compounds under conditions of Ritter's reaction yielded a mixture (1:1.4) of stereoisomeric 4-acetyl-4-trans-acetylamino- and 4-acetyl-4-cis-acetylamino-2e-methyl-trans-decahydroquinolines. From 2e-methyl-4-ethynyl-1,2,3,6,7,8,9,10-octahydroquinoline under the same conditions were obtained both already mentioned stereoisomeric 4-acetylamino-2e-methyl-4-ethynyl-decahydroquinolines (53% of cis-isomer and 35% of trans-isomer in the mixture) and 4-acetyl-4-acetylamino-2e-methyldecahydroquinolines (7% of cis-isomer and 5% of trans-isomer).     

Synthesis of some 2-alkyl-4-quinolone and 2-alkyl-4-methoxyquinoline alkaloids

Acid-catalyzed condensation of a series of 3-oxoalkanoic acid esters with aniline affords the corresponding 2-alkyl-4-quinolones in good yield. Treatment of these compounds with methyl iodide affords 2-alkyl-4-methoxyquinolines and 2-alkyl-N-methylquinolones. Three of the compounds are naturally-occurring alkaloids which are synthesized here for the first time.