Stereoselective synthesis of 1-O-β-feruloyl and 1-O-β-sinapoyl glucopyranoses

1-O-β-Feruloyl and 1-O-β-sinapoyl glucopyranoses are two common substrates for serine carboxypeptidase-like acyltransferases and serve as acyl donors in the biosynthesis of numerous secondary metabolites. In addition, they are involved in plant cell wall cross-linking and are also ideal substrates for studying the kinetics of lignification involving hydroxycinnamates. We report the first chemical (and multi-gram scale) synthesis of 1-O-β-feruloyl and 1-O-β-sinapoyl glucopyranoses.     

N-(α-Amidoalkyl)benzotriazole-mediated synthesis of β′-amido β-diketones: a general synthetic protocol for N-[β-(3,5-di and 1,3,5-trisubstituted pyrazol-4-yl)alkyl] amides

Various β′-amido-β-diketones were first synthesized with N-(α-amidoalkyl)benzotriazole-mediated amidoalkylation of 1,3-diketones in moderate yields. These intermediates undergo rapid condensation with hydrazines to give the corresponding N-[β-(3,5-di and 1,3,5-trisubstituted pyrazol-4-yl)alkyl]amides.     

Facile synthesis of (−)-tabtoxinine-β-lactam and its (3′R)-isomer

A concise and high yielding synthesis of (−)-tabtoxinine-β-lactam 1, the cause of tobacco wildfire disease, was achieved from l-serine using a zinc-mediated coupling reaction, Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation and lactamization of N-OBn amide as the key steps.     

Synthetic studies on pterin glycosides: the first synthesis of 2′-O-(α-d-glucopyranosyl)biopterin

l-Rhamnose was led, in a 14-step-sequence, to N²-(N,N-dimethylaminomethylene)-1′-O-(4-methoxybenzyl)-3-[2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethyl]biopterin (23), an appropriately protected precursor for 2′-O-glycosylation, while 4,6-di-O-acetyl-2,3-di-O-(4-methoxybenzyl)-α-d-glucopyranosyl bromide (32), a novel glycosyl donor, was efficiently prepared from d-glucose in 8 steps. The first synthesis of 2′-O-(α-d-glucopyranosyl)biopterin (2a) was achieved by treatment of the key intermediate 23 with 32 in the presence of silver triflate and tetramethylurea, followed by successive removal of the protecting groups.     

An access to the β-anomer of 4'-thio-C-ribonucleosides: hydroboration of 1-C-aryl- or 1-C-heteroaryl-4-thiofuranoid glycals and its regiochemical outcome

We have developed a novel method for the synthesis of the β-anomer of 4'-thio-C-ribonucleosides from 3,5-O-(di-tert-butylsilylene)-4-thiofuranoid glycal. Palladium-catalyzed coupling of 1-tributylstannyl-4-thiofuranoid glycal with iodobenzene or a heteroaryl halide gave 1-C-phenyl- or 1-C-heteroaryl-glycals. Hydroboration of these glycals proceeded at the α-face, and subsequent alkaline hydrogen peroxide treatment of the resulting 2'-α-borane furnished the respective β-anomer of 4'-thio-C-ribonucleosides. These results demonstrate that this synthetic method has a wider scope in terms of heterocyclic base structure. During this study, unexpected Markovnikov-oriented hydroboration has been observed to lead to the respective 1'-α-boranes. These 1'-boranes were converted into either the ring-opened structure or the 2'-deoxy derivatives depending upon their stability.     

Synthesis and anti-HCV activity of 1-(1′,3′-O-anhydro-3′-C-methyl-β-d-psicofuranosyl)uracil

Synthesis of a novel 1′,2′-oxetane-uridine bearing a 2′-C-methyl substituent, [1-(1′,3′-O-anhydro-3′-C-methyl-β-d-psicofuranosyl)uracil], is described. Key to its construction was the use of 6-O-(p-toluoyl)-1,2:3,4-di-O-isopropylidene-3-C-methyl-d-psicofuranose as a nucleosidation substrate, which itself was derived from d-fructose. Anti-HCV activity was examined for the corresponding triphosphate which was not found to be an inhibitor of HCV NS5B 1b wild type polymerase in vitro. The 1′,2′-oxetane uridine triphosphate without 2′-C-methyl substitution was similarly inactive, however, the guanosine analog displayed modest inhibition (IC₅₀ = 10 μM).     

RCAI-61, the 6′-O-methylated analog of KRN7000: its synthesis and potent bioactivity for mouse lymphocytes to produce interferon-γ in vivo

RCAI-61, the 6′-O-methylated analog of KRN7000, and six other analogs with modified 6′-position of the galactose moiety of KRN7000 were synthesized to examine their bioactivity for mouse lymphocytes. Methyl α-d-galactopyranoside was the starting material for RCAI-58, 61, 64, 83, 85, and 86, while RCAI-87 was prepared from methyl β-l-arabinopyranoside. Bioassay showed RCAI-61 to be a much more potent stimulant of mouse lymphocytes than KRN7000 and RCAI-56 to induce the production of a large amount of IFN-γ in vivo.     

Synthesis of analogues of naturally occurring 3-O-(β-d-glucopyranosyl)-fagomine

Stereoselective synthesis of 3-α-C-glucosides of d- and l-fagomine from the corresponding C-disaccharides is reported. The ethyl glycoside of perbenzylated C-disaccharide 8 was converted via the corresponding thioglycoside 10 and reducing C-disaccharide 11, into substituted alditol 12 which, upon oxidation and double reductive amination stereoselectively afforded pure perbenzylated d-fagomine C-glucoside 14. In the same manner, the ethyl glycoside of perbenzylated C-disaccharide 9 was stereoselectively converted into perbenzylated l-fagomine C-glucoside 15.     

Nucleophilic replacement of p-(1-chloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)phenols: novel synthesis of β-trifluoromethyl-tyrosine

Three para-(1-chloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)phenols 2a-c were prepared by selective α-chlorination of the corresponding alcohols 1a-c. Substitution of 2a by active methylene compound 4 proceeds smoothly in the presence of an appropriate base at room temperature, giving substituted products 5-9 in good yields. On the basis of this finding, both the important β-trifluoromethyl-tyrosine 15 and its derivatives have been successfully synthesized.     

Highly stereoselective synthesis of 2′-deoxy-β-ribonucleosides via a 3′-(N-acetyl)-glycyl-directing group

A facile synthesis of 2′-deoxy-β-ribonucleosides from 3′-O-(N-acetyl)-glycyl-protected 2′-deoxyribofuranose has been developed. The coupling reactions between the protected 2′-deoxyribose and silylated bases exhibited β-selectivity up to 98% presumably via a 1′,3′-participation mechanism. The 3′-directing group can be introduced and removed easily under mild conditions. This approach provides an efficient and highly stereoselective entry for the synthesis of 2′-deoxy-ribonucleosides.     

Regioselective biomimetic oxidation of halogenated resveratrol for the synthesis of (±)-ε-viniferin and its analogues

FeCl₃·6H₂O-promoted biomimetic oxidations of 3,5-dihalogeno-resveratrol in different acetone systems produced several coupling intermediates bearing distinct dimeric skeletons with moderate yields. The subsequent deprotection reactions of brominated coupling products achieved the efficient synthesis of natural products (±)-ε-viniferin, (±)-ampelosin B, and (±)-gnetins F, as well as an unnatural oligostilbene. The coupling mechanisms for the formation of different dimeric structures were also proposed.     

Total synthesis of apigenin 7,4′-di-O-β-glucopyranoside, a component of blue flower pigment of Salvia patens, and seven chiral analogues

We have succeeded in the first total synthesis of apigenin 7,4′-di-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (1a), a component of blue pigment, protodelphin, from naringenin (2). Glycosylation of 2 according to Koenigs-Knorr reaction provided a monoglucoside 4a in 80% yield, and this was followed by DDQ oxidation to give apigenin 7-O-glucoside (12a). Further glycosylation of 4′-OH of 12a with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-α-d-glucopyranosyl fluoride (5a) was achieved using a Lewis acid-and-base promotion system (BF₃·Et₂O, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylpyridine, and 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine) in 70% yield, and subsequent deprotection produced 1a. Synthesis of three other chiral isomers of 1a, with replacement of d-glucose at 7 and/or 4′-OH by l-glucose (1b-d), and four chiral isomers of apigenin 7-O-β-glucosides (6a,b) and 4′-O-β-glucosides (7a,b) also proved possible.     

Systematic profiling of taxol and its analogues (taxalogues) binding to β-tubulin and molecular analysis of their effects on microtubule stabilization

Microtubules are highly dynamic polymers of α/β-tubulin that represent major components of the cytoskeleton and have been established as an attractive druggable target of tumors. Taxol, also known as Paclitaxel, is a microtubule-stabilizing agent that binds stoichiometrically to a specific site in β-tubulin, where is out of but nearby the interacting interface of α/β-tubulin complex, to improve the complex stability through an allosterically regulatory mechanism. In this study, the systematic binding profile of taxol and its 22 structurally diverse, medicinally relevant analogues (termed as taxalogues) to the specific site of β-tubulin as well as their effects on the α/β-tubulin complex stability were created and investigated by using structural modeling, dynamics simulation, and energetics analysis. Two helices H1 and H2 of β-tubulin were identified as key hotspots at the α/β-tubulin interface to mediate the binding event of β-tubulin to α-tubulin. Taxalogue binding can trigger a conformational displacement in the H1 and H2 to elicit the stabilization (or destabilization) of α/β-tubulin. However, strong taxalogue binding potency to β-tubulin does not mean effective α/β-tubulin stabilization; there is only an indirect, moderate correlation between them. Cell viability assay revealed that the taxalogue-induced α/β-tubulin stabilization, but not the taxalogue binding, directly influences the antitumor activity of taxalogues. The activity increases in the order: SB-T-1214 < docetaxel < taxol < larotaxel < cisplatin < cabazitaxel.     

Low-temperature formation of cubic β-PbF2: precursor-based synthesis and first-principles phase stability study

A precursor-based approach to the cubic β-phase of PbF(2) was developed and allowed the preparation of this high-temperature phase well below the temperature for transition from the orthorhombic α- to the cubic β-phase. The formation of β-PbF(2) from the molecular precursors Pb[Se(C(6)H(2)(CF(3))(3))](2) and Pb(C(6)H(2)(CF(3))(3))(2) is facilitated by the presence of several short PbF contacts in these molecules. The cubic form of PbF(2) was obtained as macroscopic crystals as well as nanoparticulate powder. Its formation at relatively low temperature suggested a theoretical re-investigation of the phase stabilities of the two polymorphs. The theoretical results from the Kohn-Sham density functional theory indicate that the energy content for the β-phase is slightly lower than the one for the α-phase, by 0.5-1.7 kJ mol(-1) depending on the density functional used (zero-point vibrational energy correction included).     

Stereoselective synthesis of 2-O-MEM-2,3-unsaturated-β-O-glycosides and elaboration to useful synthetic tools

The glycosylation of alcohols by the new 2-O-MEM-substituted d-galactal-derived allyl epoxide affords the corresponding alkyl 2-O-MEM-3-deoxy-β-d-threo-hex-2-enopyranosides through a completely 1,4-regio- and a highly to completely substrate-dependent stereoselective glycosylation processes. The glycosides obtained can be regioselectively transformed into corresponding 3-deoxy-β-O-glycosides, 3-deoxy-β-d-threo-hexopyranosid-2-uloses, and 3,4-dideoxy-β-d-glycero-hex-3-enopyranosid-2-uloses, which are useful synthetic tools for further transformations.     

Synthesis and transformations of [1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-d-erythro (and α-d-ribo)furanose]-3-spiro-3′-(4′-amino-5′H-2′,3′-dihydroisothiazole-1′,1′-dioxide) derivatives

The carbanion-mediated sulfonamide cyclisations (CSIC protocols) of glyco-α-sulfonamidonitriles derived from readily available uloses 1A and 1B have been investigated using different bases (potassium carbonate, cesium carbonate, LDA and n-BuLi). As a result, a series of enantiomerically pure [1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-d-erythro (and α-d-ribo)furanose]-3-spiro-3′-(4′-amino-5′H-2′,3′-dihydroisothiazole-1′,1′-dioxide) derivatives have been prepared and isolated in good yields.     

A new approach to the synthesis of N-monosubstituted aniline and its derivatives via β-cyclodextrin host-guest complexes

A novel method for the synthesis of N-monosubstituted aniline and its derivatives β-cyclodextrin(CD)host-guest complexes has been presented.The mild reaction gives the title compounds with high selectivity in good yields of 90-98%.     

A new approach to the synthesis of N-monosubstituted aniline and its derivatives via β-cyclodextrin host-guest complexes

A novel method for the synthesis of N-monosubstituted aniline and its derivatives via β-cyclodextrin （CD） host-guest complexes has been presented. The mild reaction gives the title compounds with high selectivity in good yields of 90-98%.     

Palladium-catalyzed diastereoselective synthesis of β,β-diarylpropionic acid derivatives and its application to the total synthesis of (R)-tolterodine and the enantiomer of a key intermediate for MK-8718

Palladium-catalyzed diastereoselective synthesis of optically active β,β-diarylpropionic acid derivatives employing 4-(tert-butyl)oxazolidin-2-one as the chiral auxiliary under an air atmosphere in excellent yields with high diastereoselectivity is reported. The catalytic system is applied to the total synthesis of (R)-tolterodine and the enantiomer of a key intermediate for MK-8718.