Synthesis of a common trisaccharide fragment of glycoforms of the outer core region of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide

The first synthesis of the common trisaccharide of glycoforms of the outer core region of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide is reported. A fully protected trisaccharide precursor was prepared via a highly efficient α-(1→4)-glucosylation of a β-(1→3)-linked 6-O-benzyl-2-azido-2-deoxy-3-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-α-d-galactopyranoside. In contrast, an alternative sequence of glycosylations, which involves β-glucosylation of an α-(1→4)-linked Glc-GalN₃ unit, did not lead to the target trisaccharide backbone. Further O-deacetylation, azido group reduction and debenzylation of the protected trisaccharide precursor gave the corresponding trisaccharide amine. The latter structure was used in the synthesis of a series of trisaccharides bearing an acetyl group, an l-alanine or an N-acetylated l-alanine residue on its amino group at C-2 of GalN.     

The microbiological transformation of steroidal saponins by Curvularia lunata

The microbiological transformation of polyphyllin I (compound I), polyphyllin III (compound II), polyphyllin V (compound III) and polyphyllin VI (compound IV) by Curvularia lunata into their corresponding subsaponins, for example, diosgenin-3-O-α-l-arabinofuranosyl (1→4)-β-d-glucopyranoside (compound V), diosgenin-3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl (1→4)-β-d-glucopyranoside (compound VI), diosgenin-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (compound VII) and pennogenin-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (compound VIII), were studied in this paper. Curvularia lunata is able to hydrolyze terminal rhamnosyls that are linked by 1→2 C- bond to sugar residues of steroidal saponins at C-3 position with high activity and regioselectivity.     

Thyonosides A and B, two new saponins isolated from the holothurian Thyone aurea

The structures of two saponins, thyonosides A and B, isolated from the holothurian Thyone aurea collected in Namibia, were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR (¹H, ¹³C, ¹H-¹H COSY, ¹H-¹H J-resolved, TOCSY, HMQC, HMBC and NOESY). The two compounds have the same aglycon but different oligosaccharidic chains. Thyonoside A has a 3-O-methyl-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)-6-O-sodium sulphate-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-d-quinovopyranosyl-(1→2)-4-O-sodium sulphate-β-d-xylopyranosyl chain, and thyonoside B a 3-O-methyl-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-d-quinovopyranosyl-(1→2)-4-O-sodium sulphate-β-d-xylopyranosyl chain. The holostane-type aglycon features an endocyclic double bond at position 7-8, a double bond at position 25-26 and a β-acetoxy group at C16.     

The first total synthesis of calabricoside A

Quercetin 3-O-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-α-l-arabinopyranoside]-7-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (calabricoside A), a new flavonol triglycoside isolated from the aerial parts of Putoria calabrica showing strong radical scavenging activity, was synthesized through a combination of phase-transfer-catalyzed C-3 glycosylation and AgOTf promoted homogeneous C-7 glycosylation in CH₂Cl₂.     

Demonstration of the occurrence of flavanol-anthocyanin adducts in wine and in model solutions

Flavanol-anthocyanin (F-A⁺) adducts were detected in red wine. A mechanism involving acid-catalysed cleavage of flavanol oligomers followed by nucleophilic addition of the anthocyanin moiety (in its hemiketal form) to the resulting carbocation (F⁺) was postulated. To confirm this mechanism, reactions between malvidin 3-O-glucoside (Mv3glc) and procyanidin dimer epicatechin-(4-8)-epicatechin 3-O-gallate (B2-3′OG) were studied in a model solution system at pH 2. A new pigment with a UV-Vis spectrum similar to that of Mv3glc and a signal at m/z=781 in the positive ion mode was detected and was attributed to Ec-Mv3glc, in agreement with the proposed reaction pathway.A protocol adapted from the synthesis of procyanidin dimers, in which the terminal flavanol units was replaced with Mv3glc, was tested. Two new pigments were formed with a signal at m/z=781, in the positive ion mode. These ions were attributed to catechin-Mv3glc.Both adducts obtained by hemisynthesis showed exactly the same fragmentation pattern as that present in wine. In particular, the loss of a 126 amu fragment corresponding to the unsubstituted A-ring of the flavanol unit indicated that all of them were (epi)catechin-Mv3glc adducts.These results prove that reactions between the carbocations resulting from cleavage of tannin interflavanic bonds and anthocyanins occur in wine.     

Proanthocyanidin glycosides from the leaves of Quercus ilex L. (Fagaceae)

From the polar extracts of the leaves of Quercus ilex L., two new proanthocyanidin glycosides, namely afzelechin-(4α→8)-catechin-3-O-β-glucopyranoside (1) and afzelechin-(4α→8)-catechin-3-O-α-rhamnopyranoside (2), were isolated in addition to catechin (3), proanthocyanidin B₃ (4), prodelphinidin C (5), dehydrodicatechin A (6), quercetin (7) and six known flavonol glucosides with their acylated derivatives (8-13) and ellagic acid (14). The structures of all isolated compounds were established by spectroscopic means, mainly 1D and 2D NMR, as well as LC/MS and HR-MS spectrometric analyses. The absolute configuration of compound 1 was determined by CD measurements. The proanthocyanidin glycosides are especially interesting, as they possess the sugar in the upper unit of the dimer, which is rare for this type of compounds.     

Synthesis of terminal disaccharide unit of Klebsiella pneumoniae ssp. R20

Synthesis of the terminal disaccharide unit of a novel α-(1→2) linked heptoglycan of K. pneumoniae ssp. strain R20 from methyl α-d-mannopyranoside has been presented. Central to the strategy is the application of Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation to introduce a new center at C-6 position of mannopyranoside. The coupling of two heptoglycans (12 and 13) was accomplished by a Lewis acid catalyst.     

Zur lokalisierung funktioneller gruppen mit hilfe der massenspektrometrie—VIII : 6-hydroxy-androstan-3,17-dione und 6,17β-dihydroxy-androstan-3-one

5β-androstan-3-ones carrying a 6α-OH group show in their mass spectra a key-ion indicating the loss of water and C-1 to C-4 as C₄H₅O? particle. 6β-OH isomers lose instead C-1 to C-4 in form of C₄H₇O?.In 6α-hydroxy-androstan-3-ones differentiation between the connection of the A/B-ring system is possible, because in 5α-isomers the loss of C-3 to C-7 occurs as a C₅H₆O₂ particle, while the 5β-isomers lose the same C atoms as a C₅H₇O? unit.Compounds with a 6β-OH group in an A/B trans connected ring system show a tendency for thermal water elimination. After rearrangement of the double bond in 4,5 position the typical fragments for 3-keto-Δ⁴-steroids are obtained.Occasionally a strong influence of a 6-OH group on fragmentation reactions in the D-ring system is observed: The presence of a 6α-OH group in an androstan-3,17-dione enhances the loss of C-16 and C-17 in the form of acetaldehydenol. Also the connection of the A/B-ring system may have a considerable influence on this type of reaction: In 6,17β-dihydroxy-androstan-3-ones only by trans connection of the A/B-ring system, C-16 and C-17 are lost with high probability after water elimination.     

Highly glycosylated flavonoids from the pods of Bobgunnia madagascariensis

Methanolic extracts of the pods of Bobgunnia madagascariensis (Leguminosae) yielded four pentaglycosylated flavonoids, including the 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl(1→3)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl(1→2)[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl(1→6)]-β-d-glucopyranoside-7-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosides of 3,5,7-trihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4H-benzopyran-4-one (kaempferol) and 3,5,7-trihydroxy-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-4H-benzopyran-4-one (quercetin), which were characterized by a novel O-linked branched tetrasaccharide. Spectroscopic and chemical methods were used to determine the structures of the latter, which co-occurred with the corresponding β-d-galactopyranosyl isomers, and two saponins. Conformational isomerism of quercetin 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl(1→3)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl(1→2)[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl(1→6)]-β-d-glucopyranoside-7-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside was detected in solution by NMR, a phenomenon previously associated only with C-glycosylflavonoids.     

Structure determination and colour properties of a new directly linked flavanol-anthocyanin dimer

The structure of catechin-(4α→8)-malvidin 3-O-glucoside obtained by reaction of taxifolin and malvidin 3-O-glucoside following a protocol adapted from proanthocyanidin dimer synthesis was determined by NMR spectrometry. Incorporation of the anthocyanin moiety into a covalent linked flavanol-anthocyanin dimer did not modify its colour properties (i.e., hydration equilibrium constant and copigmentation).     

Structural revision of shatavarins I and IV, the major components from the roots of Asparagus racemosus

The two major steroidal saponins from the roots of Asparagus racemosus were isolated by RP-HPLC and their structure determined by extensive NMR studies. Their structures did not match those reported previously for shatavarins I and IV and were found to be 3-O-{[β-d-glucopyranosyl(1→2)][α-l-rhamnopyranosyl(1→4)]-β-d-glucopyranosyl}-26-O-(β-d-glucopyranosyl)-(25S)-5β-furostan-3β,22α,26-triol and 3-O-{[β-d-glucopyranosyl(1→2)][α-l-rhamnopyranosyl(1→4)]-β-d-glucopyranosyl}-(25S)-5β-spirostan-3β-ol.     

Conformational and configurational study of 2-phenyl-4-aryl-1,3,2-dioxaphosphonates derived from xylofuranose derivatives. The anomeric effect in the spontaneous isomerization of cyclic phosphonates

A series of 2-phenyl-4-aryl-1,3,2-dioxaphosphonates derived from xylofuranose derivatives were synthesized in two-steps from diacetone-d-glucose in order to carry out conformational and configurational studies. The absolute stereochemistry at the phosphorus atom was assigned by analyzing the ¹H NMR chemical shifts for each diastereoisomeric pair. This empirical assignment criterion was corroborated by X-ray crystallographic studies. Additionally, in the case of two cyclic phosphonates, spontaneous conversion into two more stable diastereoisomeric phosphonates occurred either in column chromatography or in solution (approx. 300 h in solution CDCl₃). This is attributed to the cleavage of the O3-C4 bond within the P-heterocyclic ring, which is induced by the anomeric effect (n_O → π^∗_PO).     

Synthesis, vacuum ultraviolet and near ultraviolet-excited luminescent properties of GdCaAl3O7: RE (RE=Eu, Tb)

Vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) excitation and photoluminescent (PL) properties of Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺ ion-doped aluminate phosphors, GdCaAl₃O₇:Eu³⁺ and GdCaAl₃O₇:Tb³⁺ have been investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns indicate that the phosphor GdCaAl₃O₇ forms without impurity phase at 900 °C. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) images show that the particle size of the phosphor is less than 3 μm. Upon excitation with VUV irradiation, the phosphors show a strong emission at around 619 nm corresponding to the forced electric dipole ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ transition of Eu³⁺, and at around 545 nm corresponding to the ⁵D₄→⁷F₅ transition of Tb³⁺. The results reveal that both GdCaAl₃O₇:RE³⁺ (RE=Eu, Tb) are potential candidates as red and green phosphors, respectively, for use in plasma display panel (PDP).     

Synthesis of 7,9-dideoxybaccatin IV analogs from sinenxan A

Sinenxan A, a taxoid isolated from callus tissue cultures of Taxus yunnanensis was converted into 13-oxo-7,9-dideoxy-2-debenzoyl-2-acetyl-baccatin IV and 7,9-dideoxy-2-debenzoyl-4-deacetyl-baccatin IV, a key framework of 1,7,9-trideoxypaclitaxel. Several special steps in this transformation are worthy of note: (1) deoxygenation by treatment with hypophosphorous acid at C-14 position; (2) a highly regioselective O-deacetylation of taxanes at C-5 position; and (3) stereoselective reduction of the 13-carbonyl group by transannular assistance from the C-4-hydroxyl.     

Mannich aminomethylation of flavonoids and anti-proliferative activity against breast cancer cell

We herein report Mannich aminomethylation of variously structural flavonoids and their biological evaluation against human breast cancer cell. Mannich reaction showed that substitution at C-6 position depends on amine basicity and C-ring feature of flavonoids. All five flavonoid substrates reacted with strong amine bases to afford the bis(6,8-aminomethyl) derivatives, while with weak amines, the different products were obtained dependently on structural characteristic of flavonoid. 3-OH and 3-O-substituted groups on the C-ring exhibited the deactivated aminomethylation at C-6 position, whereas substitution at this position was independent on bond feature at C-2 and C-3 on the C-ring. Screening anti-proliferative activity showed six flavonoids possessed activity against breast cancer cell, MDA-MB-231. Among them, the flavonoids, luteolin (2) and 3′,4′,5,7-tetrahydroxy-6,8-bis(pyrrolidin-1-ylmethyl)-3-rutinosylflavone (3a), displayed the highest anti-proliferative activity with the lowest IC₅₀ values.     

Straightforward sequential and one-pot synthesis of a pentasaccharide repeating unit corresponding to the cell wall O-antigen of Shigella boydii type 18

Synthesis of a pentasaccharide repeating unit corresponding to the cell of wall O-antigen Shigella boydii type 18 has been achieved by sequential as well as iterative glycosylations in one-pot. Use of p-methoxybenzyl group (PMB) as an in situ removable protecting group allowed obtaining the desired pentasaccharide derivative in a generalized glycosylation condition and in one-pot condition. Synthesis of a beta-L-rhamnosidic linkage present in the molecule has been successfully achieved using l-rhamnosyl thioglycoside donor having a picoloyl group at remote C-3 position influencing beta selectivity in the glycosylation. A combination of N-iodosuccinimide (NIS) and perchloric acid supported over silica (HClO₄–SiO₂) has been used as thiophilic glycosylation promoter in all glycosylation reactions. TEMPO mediated selective oxidation of the primary hydroxyl group has been carried out at the late stage of the synthetic strategy.     

Synthesis of 3,4-di-O-acylated glucose-derived furanoid sugar amino acids (Gaa): conformational analysis of a Leu-enkephalin analog containing di-O-myristoylated Gaa

3,4-Di-O-acylated derivatives 1-3 of a glucose-derived furanoid sugar amino acid (Gaa) were synthesized as novel peptide building blocks to study their effects on peptide conformation. Structural analysis of the di-O-myristoylated Gaa 3-containing Leu-enkephalin analog 4 by various NMR techniques and constrained molecular dynamics (MD) simulation studies established a well-defined β-turn structure in DMSO-d₆ with an intramolecular hydrogen bond between PheNH → TyrCO.     

β-Mannosidase and β-hexosaminidase inhibitors: synthesis of 1,2-bis-epi-valienamine and 1-epi-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-valienamine from d-mannose

A partially protected C-5C-5a unsaturated carbasugar with α-lyxo configuration is synthesised in five steps and 26% overall yield from a known mannose-derived hemiacetal, using ring-closing metathesis as a key step. This carbasugar is converted into valienamine derivatives with β-lyxo (i.e., corresponding to β-manno at C-1–C-4), α-lyxo (i.e., corresponding to α-manno at C-1–C-4) and β-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-xylo (i.e., corresponding to β-GlcNAc at C-1–C-4) configurations. This is the first report of the synthesis of the β-lyxo compound, 1,2-bis-epi-valienamine, which was found to inhibit Cellulomonas fimi β-mannosidase (CfMan2A) with K_i 140 μM. We report the crystal structures of three protected C-5C-5a unsaturated carbasugars with lyxo configuration.     

Picolinyl group as an efficient alcohol protecting group: cleavage with Zn(OAc)2·2H2O under a neutral condition

As an efficient alcohol protecting group, picolinates (Pic), prepared from the corresponding alcohols using commercial picolinoyl chloride, are readily cleaved by Zn(OAc)₂ or Cu(OAc)₂, even in the presence of other common alcohol protecting groups. Moreover, the picolinyl group at C-2 position in carbohydrates can be selectively cleaved to give methyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-3-O-picolinyl-α-d-glucopyranoside and 3-O-picolinyl methyl-4,6-O-benzylidene-α-d-galactopyranoside in good yields.     

Synthesis and reactivity of (RS)-6-chloro-7- or 9-(1,2,3,5-tetrahydro-4,1-benzoxazepin-3-yl)-7H- or 9H-purines bearing a nitrobenzenesulfonyl group on the nitrogen atom

The O,O-acetalic compounds (RS)-3-methoxy-1-[(2)- or (4)-nitrobenzenesulfonyl)]-1,2,3,5-tetrahydro-4,1-benzoxazepine have been studied in the Lewis acid-mediated condensation with 6-chloropurine. 6-Chloropurine leads to the N-7″ aminalic bond in the cyclic products and mainly to the N-9″ aminalic bond in the acyclic ones. Substitution of the chlorine atom at the 6″ position of the purine moiety is more feasible when the ring is alkylated at N-7″ than at N-9″. Exchange with a hydroxyl group is performed with water traces in deuterated dimethylsulfoxide at room temperature in a solvent-mediated process. The exchange with strong nucleophiles (e.g., thiophenol) does not need further activation.