First synthesis of 2',3'-epimino-carbocyclic nucleosides

The preparation of 2',3'-epimino-carbocyclic analogues of adenosine is reported. The reaction of p-tosyl azide with N-substituted 2-azabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-3-one (ABH) (1a) provided aziridine-fused ABH (2), which was converted to 2',3'-epimino-carbocyclic nucleosides (11).     

Synthesis of 3',3'-difluoro-2'- hydroxymethyl-4',5'-unsaturated carbocyclic nucleosides

3',3'-Difluoro-2'-hydroxymethyl-4',5'-unsaturated carbocyclic nucleosides 1-3 have been stereoselectively synthesized from ester 10, which can be conveniently prepared from 2,3-isopropylidene-d-glyceraldehyde 7 in five steps. The whole synthesis highlighted the stereoselective Reformatskii-Claisen rearrangement, ring-closing metathesis (RCM), and palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylation, in which the regioselectivity was reversed from that of nonfluorinated substrates.     

Enantiomeric syntheses of conformationally restricted D- and L-2', 3'-dideoxy-2',3'-endo-methylene nucleosides from carbohydrate chiral templates

D- and L-2',3'-dideoxy-2',3'-endo-methylene nucleosides were synthesized as potential antiviral agents. The key intermediates 5-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-D- and L-2,3-dideoxy-2, 3-endo-methylenepentofuranoses (20 and 33, respectively) were obtained by selective protection of the D- and L-2,3-dideoxy-2, 3-endo-methylenepentose derivatives 19 and 32 which were prepared from 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-D-mannitol and L-gulonic gamma-lactone, respectively, and converted to 5-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-D- and L-2,3-dideoxy-2, 3-endo-methylenepentofuranosyl acetates (21 and 34, respectively) or the chlorides 22 and 35. The acetates and chlorides were condensed with pyrimidine and purine bases by Vorbrüggen conditions or S(N)2-type condensation. Vorbrüggen conditions using the acetates gave mostly alpha-isomers. In contrast, S(N)2-type condensation using the chlorides greatly improved the beta/alpha ratio. From the synthesis, several D- and L-2',3'-dideoxy-2',3'-endo-methylene nucleoside analogues have been obtained, and their structures have been elucidated by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. The synthesized D- and L-adenine derivatives were tested as substrates of adenosine deaminase, which indicated that the D-adenosine derivative 4a was a good substrate of a mammalian adenosine deaminase from calf intestinal mucosa (EC 3.5.4.4) while its L-enantiomer 10a was a poor substrate. Either the D-adenine derivative 4a or its L-enantiomer 10a did not serve as an inhibitor of the enzyme.     

Addition of difluorocarbene to 3',4'-unsaturated nucleosides: synthesis of 2'-deoxy analogues with a 2-oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane framework

Treatment of protected 2'-deoxy-3',4'-unsaturated nucleosides derived from adenosine and uridine with difluorocarbene [generated from bis(trifluoromethyl)mercury and sodium iodide] gave fused-ring 2,2-difluorocyclopropane compounds. Stereoselective alpha-face addition to the dihydrofuran ring resulted from hindrance by the protected beta-anomeric nucleobases. A protected uracil compound was converted smoothly into the cytosine derivative via a 4-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl) intermediate. Removal of the protecting groups gave new difluorocyclopropane-fused nucleoside analogues. The solid-state conformation of the nearly planar furanosyl ring in the uracil compound had a shallow 2E pucker, and a more pronounced 1E conformation was present in the furanosyl ring of the cytosine derivative.     

Biomimetic protecting-group-free 2', 3'-selective aminoacylation of nucleosides and nucleotides

Aminoacyl phosphate monoesters can be prepared free of an amino-protecting group and used directly in lanthanum-promoted selective monoacylation of either the 2' or 3'-hydroxyl of nucleosides and nucleotides. For example, phenylalanyl ethyl phosphate rapidly forms esters with either of the 2' or 3'-hydroxyls of ribonucleosides and nucleotides in the presence of lanthanum ions in aqueous buffer. Oligomerization of the aminoacyl phosphate is much slower than ester formation and is not a competitive process. Competing hydrolysis of the reagent is slow. By extension, this route should provide a simplified general route to synthetically aminoacylated derivatives of tRNA.     

Synthesis of 3'-fluoro-2',3'-dideoxy-2',3'-didehydro-4'-ethynyl-D- and -L-furanosyl nucleosides

An efficient procedure has been developed for the synthesis of 3'-fluoro-2',3'-dideoxy-2',3'-didehydro-4'-ethynyl D- and L-furanosyl nucleosides (1 and 2) starting from 2,3-O-isopropylidene-d-glyceraldehyde. The key intermediate 1-O-benzoyl-3E-fluoro-3,4-unsaturated-5,6-di(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-2-hexanone 8 was obtained in nine steps with the overall yield of 22%. The alpha,beta-unsaturated ketone 8 was then treated with ethynylmagnesium bromide in a typical Grignard reaction procedure to afford the two intermediates 9 and 10, which after deprotection, oxidation, and acetylation gave the corresponding 4-ethynyl-substituted D- and L-sugar moieties 15 and 16, respectively. A series of D- and L-pyrimidine and purine nucleosides were prepared by the coupling of the sugar moieties with various silylprotected bases. The anomeric mixtures were obtained after condensation. After separation, the beta-isomers were further deprotected to yield the target nucleosides. All the newly synthesized 4'-substituted nucleosides were tested for their activities against HIV, among which the D-adenine derivative showed moderate anti-HIV activity (EC(50) = 25.1 microM) without significant cytotoxicity.     

Functionalized 2,2'-bipyridines and 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridines via stille-type cross-coupling procedures

Stille-type cross-coupling procedures are utilized in order to prepare a variety of functionalized 2,2'-bipyridines and 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridines. Such N-heterocyclic compounds are of great interest as chelating ligands for transition-metal ions in the field of supramolecular chemistry. Various mono- and disubstitued 2,2'-bipyridines were synthesized in high yields and multigram scales using a modular design principle. The terpyridines may be functionalized in one step with different substituents at the outer pyridine rings and at the 4'-position of the centered ring, leading to multifunctionalized compounds. The initially obtained methyl ester and ethyl ester groups can be simply converted into bromomethyl and hydroxymethyl groups which allow further functionalization reactions.     

Hydrolysis of 2',3'-O-methyleneadenos-5'-yl bis(2',5'-di-O-methylurid-3'-yl) phosphate, a sugar O-alkylated trinucleoside 3',3',5'-monophosphate: implications for the mechanism of large ribozymes

Hydrolytic reactions of 2',3'-O-methyleneadenos-5'-yl bis(2',5'-di-O-methylurid-3'-yl) phosphate (1), a sugar O-alkylated trinucleoside 3',3',5'-monophosphate, have been followed by RP HPLC over a wide pH range. Under neutral and mildly acidic conditions, the only reaction observed was a pH-independent cleavage of the O-C5' bond of the 5'-linked nucleoside. Under more alkaline conditions nucleophilic attack by hydroxide ion starts to compete. The reaction is first order in [OH(-)] and becomes predominant at pH 10. Each of the 3'-linked nucleosides is displaced 2.9 times as readily as the 5'-linked one. To determine the beta(lg) value for the hydroxide ion catalyzed hydrolysis of 1, two diesters (2a,b) having 2',3'-O-methyleneadenosine (7) and 2',5'-di-O-methyluridine (4) as leaving groups were hydrolyzed under alkaline conditions. Since the beta(lg) value for this reaction is known, DeltapK(a) between 4 and 7 could be calculated. The beta(lg) for the hydrolysis of 1 was estimated to be -0.5 with use of this information. The mechanisms of the partial reactions and the role of leaving group properties in ribozyme reactions of large ribozymes are discussed.     

New synthesis of 2',3'-didehydro-2',3'-dideoxynucleosides.

The 3'-iodonucleoside 4 and the 3'-O-methylsulfonylthymidine 9 have been synthesized by condensation of silylated uracils 2 with methyl 5-O-tert-butyldiphensilyl-2,3-dideoxy-3-iodo-D-threo-pentofuran oside (3) and methyl 5-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2-deoxy-3-methylsulfonyl-D-erythro- pentofuranoside (8), respectively. The nucleoside 4 and 9 produced the corresponding 2',3'-didehydro-2',3'-dideoxynucleosides 5 in an elimination reaction on treatment with sodium methoxide. The compounds 5b showed no antiviral activity against HIV-1.     

Synthesis of 3'-deoxynucleosides with 2-oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane sugar moieties: addition of difluorocarbene to a 3',4'-unsaturated uridine derivative and 1,2-dihydrofurans derived from D- and L-xylose1

Syntheses of 3'-deoxy analogues of adenosine, cytidine, and uridine with a 2,2-difluorocyclopropane ring fused at C3'-C4' are described. Treatment of a 2',5'-protected-3',4'-unsaturated derivative of uridine with difluorocarbene [generated from (CF3)2Hg and NaI] gave a diastereomeric mixture of the 3',4'-difluoromethylene compounds (alpha-L-arabino/beta-D-ribo, approximately 5:4). The limited stereoselectivity for addition at the beta face results from competitive steric hindrance by an allylic 4-methoxybenzyloxy group at C2' on the alpha face and a homoallylic nucleobase at C1' on the beta face. Protected uracil derivatives were converted into their cytosine counterparts via 4-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl) intermediates. Treatment of 1,2-dihydrofurans derived from D- and L-xylose with difluorocarbene resulted in stereospecific addition at the beta face (anti to the 1,2-O-isopropylidene group on the alpha face). Glycosylations with activated enantiomeric sugar derivatives with the fused difluorocyclopropane ring on the beta face gave protected adenine nucleosides, whereas attempted glycosylation with an alpha-fused derivative gave multiple products. Removal of base- and sugar-protecting groups gave new difluoromethylene-bridged nucleoside analogues.     

Anomalous Beckmann Reaction in a Series of Oximes of 4-Aryl-2,7,7-trimethyl-5-oxo-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinolines in Polyphosphoric Acid. 2. Unexpected Synthesis of 3'-Ethoxycarbonyl-4',7',7'-trimethyl-4-oxo-2',6',7',8'-tetrahydrospiro(cyclohexa-2,5-diene-1,2'-pyrrolo[4,3,2-d,e]quinolines)

Oximes of 3-ethoxycarbonyl-4-halo(methoxy)phenyl-2,7,7-trimethyl-5-oxo-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinolines are converted in polyphosphoric acid (PPA) into 3'-ethoxycarbonyl-4',7',7'-trimethyl-4-oxo-2',6',7',8'-tetrahydrospiro(cyclohexa-2,5-diene-1,2'-pyrrolo[4,3,2-d,e]quinoline). An X-ray structural analysis has been carried out on one of the synthesized compounds.     

Enzymatic and chemical stability of 2',3'-dideoxy-2',3'-didehydropyrimidine nucleosides: potential anti-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome agents

The enzymatic and chemical stability of three 2',3'-dideoxy-2',3'-didehydropyrimidine nucleosides has been studied. Chemical degradtion of the analogues was measured in the pH range of 1.0-9.0. 2',3'-Dideoxy-2',3'-didehydrocytidine (DDCN) degraded rapidly under acidic conditions, but the chemical stability was greater under basic conditions. The chemical degradation of 2',3'-dideoxy-2',3'-didehydrouridine (DDUN) and 2',3'-dideoxy-2',3'-didehydrothymidine (DDTN) was not pH dependent and was faster than that of cytarabine. Enzymatic degradation of DDCN, DDUN and DDTN was not observed in human plasma, though cytarabine was degraded enzymatically under the same conditions. DDCN was also not degraded in the presence of mouse kidney cytidine deaminase.     

Synthesis of 2',3'-dideoxy-6',6'-difluorocarbocyclic nucleosides

2',3'-Dideoxy-6',6'-difluorouracils, a novel series of gem-difluoromethylenated carbocyclic nucleosides, were synthesized from (Z)-but-2-ene-1,4-diol in 14 steps. A notable step was the construction of the carbocyclic ring via ring-closing metathesis and the incorporation of gem-difluoromethylene group by way of silicon-induced Reformatskii-Claisen reaction of chlorodifluoroacetic ester 3.     

New telluride-mediated elimination for novel synthesis of 2',3'-didehydro-2',3'-dideoxynucleosides

Several 2',3'-dideoxynucleosides (ddNs) and 2',3'-didehydro-2',3'-dideoxynucleosides (d4Ns) are FDA-approved anti-HIV drugs. Via conveniently synthesized 2,2'-anhydronucleosides, we have developed a novel synthesis of d4Ns by discovering and applying a new telluride-mediated elimination reaction. Our experiment results show that after substitution of 2,2'-anhydronucleosides with a telluride monoanion, a telluride intermediate is formed, and its elimination leads to formation of the olefin products (d4Ns). Our mechanistic study indicates that this telluride-assisted reaction consists of two steps: substitution (or addition) and elimination. By using dimethyl ditelluride (0.1 equiv) as the reagent, d4Ns can be synthesized with yields up to 90% via this telluride-mediated elimination. Our novel strategy has great potential to simplify synthesis of these drugs and to further reduce cost of AIDS treatment and will also facilitate development of novel d4N and ddN analogues.     

Comprehensive structural studies of 2',3'-difluorinated nucleosides: comparison of theory, solution, and solid state

The conformations of three 2',3'-difluoro uridine nucleosides were studied by X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, and ab initio calculations in an attempt to define the roles that the two vicinal fluorine atoms play in the puckering preferences of the furanose ring. Two of the compounds examined contained fluorine atoms in either the arabino or xylo dispositions at C2' and C3' of a 2',3'-dideoxyuridine system. The third compound also incorporated fluorine atoms in the xylo configuration on the furanose ring but was substituted with a 6-azauracil base in place of uracil. A battery of NMR experiments in D 2O solution was used to identify conformational preferences primarily from coupling constant and NOE data. Both (1)H and (19)F NMR data were used to ascertain the preferred sugar pucker of the furanose ring through the use of the program PSEUROT. Compound-dependent parameters used in the PSEUROT calculations were newly derived from complete sets of conformations calculated from high-level ab initio methods. The solution and theoretical data were compared to the conformations of each molecule in the solid state. It was shown that both gauche and antiperiplanar effects may be operative to maintain a pseudodiaxial arrangement of the C2' and C3' vicinal fluorine atoms. These data, along with previously reported data by us and others concerning monofluorinated nucleoside conformations, were used to propose a model of how fluorine influences different aspects of nucleoside conformations.     

2'-chloro-2',3'-dideoxy-3'-fluoro-d-ribonucleosides: synthesis,stereospecificity, some chemical transformations,and conformational analysis

The synthesis of methyl 5-O-benzoyl-2-chloro-2,3-dideoxy-3-fluoro-beta-d-ribofuranoside (5) and its use as a glycosylating agent for persilylated thymine, N(6)-benzoyladenine, and N(4)-benzoylcytosine are described (Scheme 1). The 2'-chloro-2',3'-dideoxy-3'-fluoro-d-ribonucleosides 10-12 synthesized were transformed to 2',3'-dideoxy-3'-fluoro-alpha- and -beta-d-erythro-pentofuranoside nucleosides of thymine (13a,b), adenine (14a,b), and cytidine (15a,b) by treatment with tributyltin hydride in the presence of alpha,alpha'-azobisisobutyronitrile (Scheme 2). Treatment of 2'-chloro-2',3'-dideoxy-3'-fluoro-d-ribonucleosides with 1 M MeONa/MeOH under reflux for 1-5 h afforded 2',3'-didehydro-2',3'-dideoxy-2'-chloro-d-pentofuranosyl nucleosides as the principal products (47-81%) of the reaction, along with recovered starting nucleoside (11-33%) (Scheme 3). Easy HF elimination was also observed in the case of the 2'-azido-2',3'-dideoxy-3'-fluoro-beta-d-ribofuranosides of thymine (17) and adenine (20) (Scheme 3). The role of conformational peculiarities of 2'-chloro-2',3'-dideoxy-3'-fluoro-d-ribonucleosides as well as of 17 and 20 in the observed exclusive elimination of HF is discussed. The conformational analysis of a rather broad palette of 2,3-dideoxy-3-fluoro-2-(X-substituted)-d-ribofuranosides was performed with the aid of the PSEUROT (version 6.3) program, using (i) the recently reparametrized Karplus-type relation (Chattopadhyaya and co-workers. J. Org. Chem. 1998, 63, 4967) and (ii) empirical bond angle correction terms suggested by us. The predictive power of the Brunck and Weinhold model (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1979, 101, 1700) of the gauche effect between atoms and groups as a conformational driving force acting upon the pentofuranose ring is explored. Their model invokes maximum antiperiplanar sigma <--> sigma stabilization when the donating bond is the least polar one and the acceptor orbital is at the most polarized bond and is found at least as satisfactory, and in various specific cases more so than, as rationalizations on the basis of the preference of the gauche vs the trans conformation of two vicinal electronegative substituents (Wolfe. Acc. Chem. Res. 1972, 5, 102).     

A new concept for the preparation of beta-L- and beta-D-2',3'-dideoxynucleoside analogues

[reaction: see text] A new method for the synthesis of 2',3'-dideoxynucleoside analogues has been developed. An electrochemical activation of 2-substituted furans is followed by the coupling with a pyrimidine or purine base. This gives planar furyl nucleosides as key intermediates, which are hydrogenated cis-selectively to give the corresponding beta-2',3'-dideoxynucleosides as racemic mixtures. An enzymatic kinetic resolution gives rise to beta-D- and beta-L-configured derivatives in high optical purity. This is exemplified by the synthesis of beta-D- and beta-L-3'-deoxythymidine.     

Facile synthesis of O6-alkyl-, O6-aryl-, and diaminopurine nucleosides from 2'-deoxyguanosine

The 3',5'-bis-O-TBDMS derivative of 2'-deoxyguanosine can be converted to its O6-alkyl and O6-aryl ethers as well as to N6-substituted diaminopurine nucleosides in two simple steps. Also described is a novel, nonaqueous, one-step O6-desulfonylation method that leads to deprotection of the carbonyl moiety of 2'-deoxyguanosine.     

Three-bond sugar-base couplings in purine versus pyrimidine nucleosides: a DFT study of Karplus relationships for (3)J(C2/4-H1') and (3)J(C6/8-H1') in DNA

(3)J(C2/4-H1') and (3)J(C6/8-H1') scalar spin-spin coupling constants have been calculated for deoxyadenosine, deoxyguanosine, deoxycytidine, and deoxythymidine as functions of the glycosidic torsion angle chi by means of density functional theory. Except for deoxythymidine, (3)J(C2/4-H1') depends little on the base type. On the contrary, (3)J(C6/8-H1') follows the usual trans to cis ratio ((3)J(C-H(cis)) < (3)J(C-H(trans))) for purine nucleosides, but reveals the opposite relation ((3)J(C-H(cis)) > (3)J(C-H(trans))) for pyrimidine nucleosides. Our results compare well with the experiment for deoxyguanosine and predict a novel trend in the case of pyrimidine bases for which no NMR results are available in the syn region. A breakdown of the key Fermi contact part of (3)J(C6/8-H1') into MO contributions rationalizes this trend in terms of an unusual coupling mechanism in the syn orientation that is very effective for pyrimidine nucleosides and considerably weaker for purine nucleosides.     

Synthesis and mesomorphic properties of 4-methoxyphenyl 4'- n -alkoxy-2',3',5',6'-tetrafluorobiphenyl-1-carboxylates

A novel type of 4-methoxyphenyl 4'- n -alkoxy-2',3',5',6'-tetrafluorobiphenyl-1-carboxylates have been synthesized. Textural observations by polarizing microscopy and DSC measurements of the phase transitions show that all of these compounds are thermotropic liquid crystals with only a nematic mesophase. The relationship between the properties and chemical structures of these compounds is discussed.