A Catalytic and Stereoselective Glycosylation with β‐Glycosyl Fluorides

A catalytic and stereoselective glycosylation of several glycosyl acceptors with β‐D ‐glycosyl fluoride was successfully performed in the presence of a catalytic amount of trityl tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate (TrB(C₆F₅)₄) or trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TfOH). When TrB(C₆F₅)₄ was used as a catalyst in the solvent pivalonitrile/(trifluoromethyl)benzene 1 : 5, the glycosylation proceeded smoothly to afford the glycosides in high yields with high β‐D ‐stereoselectivities (see Table 3). Further, the glycosylation by the armed‐disarmed strategy in the presence of this catalyst was established (see Table 4). Similarly, glycosylation catalyzed by the strong protic acid TfOH afforded the corresponding β‐D ‐glycosides in good‐to‐excellent yields on treating β‐D ‐ glycosyl fluorides having a 2‐O‐benzoyl group with various glycosyl acceptors including thioglycosides (see Tables 6 and 7).     

A Facile and Efficient Method for the One-Pot Synthesis of Per-O-acetylated Thioglycosides from Unprotected Sugars

An efficient, convenient protocol for the preparation of per-O-acetylated p-tolylthio glycosides is described. Treatment of various unprotected sugars, including 2-deoxy-2-amino sugars, sialic acid, lactose, and maltose, with acetic anhydride using SnCl₄ as a catalyst, and subsequently with p-tolylthiol, furnished the corresponding thioglycosides in 71%–90% yield under solvent-free conditions.     

β‐Selective Glycosylation by Using O‐Aryl‐Protected Glycosyl Donors

New glycosyl donors have been developed that contained several para‐substituted O‐aryl protecting groups and their stereoselectivity for the glycosylation reaction was evaluated. A highly β‐selective glycosylation reaction was achieved by using thioglycosides that were protected by 4‐nitrophenyl (NP) groups, which were introduced by using the corresponding diaryliodonium triflate. Analysis of the stereoselectivities of several glycosyl donors indicated that the β‐glycosides were obtained through an S_N2‐type displacement from the corresponding α‐glycosyl triflate. The NP group could be removed by reduction of the nitro group and acylation, followed by oxidation with ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN).     

Cyclisation versus 1,1‐Carboboration: Reactions of B(C6F5)3 with Propargyl Amides

A series of propargyl amides were prepared and their reactions with the Lewis acidic compound B(C₆F₅)₃ were investigated. These reactions were shown to afford novel heterocycles under mild conditions. The reaction of a variety of N‐substituted propargyl amides with B(C₆F₅)₃ led to an intramolecular oxo‐boration cyclisation reaction, which afforded the 5‐alkylidene‐4,5‐dihydrooxazolium borate species. Secondary propargyl amides gave oxazoles in B(C₆F₅)₃ mediated (catalytic) cyclisation reactions. In the special case of disubstitution adjacent to the nitrogen atom, 1,1‐carboboration is favoured as a result of the increased steric hindrance (1,3‐allylic strain) in the 5‐alkylidene‐4,5‐dihydrooxazolium borate species.     

Application of Novel Glycosides Prepared with Odorless Benzenethiols in Glycosylation Reaction

p‐Dodecylbenzenethiol (1) and p‐octyloxybenzenethiol (2) were synthesized as new odorless benzenethiols. Moreover, preparation of novel 1‐thioglycosides using 1 and 2 as well as their application for glycosylation reactions was performed. As a result, it was found that these 1‐thio‐glycosides were excellent glycosyl donors, and especially 2‐thio‐sialoside prepared from 1 and 2 afforded the best result to date in terms of α‐ and β‐selectivity in the sialylation where only the single C‐3 hydroxyl group of acceptor D‐galactopyranoside was free. All procedures from the preparation of thioglycosides to glycosylation reaction were attainable under completely odorless conditions.     

Do Glycosyl Sulfonium Ions Engage in Neighbouring‐Group Participation? A Study of Oxathiane Glycosyl Donors and the Basis for their Stereoselectivity

Neighbouring‐group participation has long been used to control the synthesis of 1,2‐trans‐glycosides. More recently there has been a growing interest in the development of similar strategies for the synthesis of 1,2‐cis‐glycosides, in particular the use of auxiliary groups that generate sulfonium ion intermediates. However, there has been some debate over the role of sulfonium ion intermediates in these reactions: do sulfonium ions actually engage in neighbouring‐group participation, or are they a resting state of the system prior to reaction through an oxacarbenium ion intermediate? Herein, we describe the reactivities and stereoselectivities of a family of bicyclic thioglycosides in which an oxathiane ring is fused to the sugar to form a trans‐decalin‐like structure. A methyl sulfonium ion derived from one such glycosyl donor is so stable that it can be crystallised from ethanol, yet it reacts with complete stereoselectivity at high temperature. The importance of a ketal group in the oxathiane ring for maintaining this high stereoselectivity is investigated using a combination of experiment and ab initio calculations. The data are discussed in terms of S_N1 and S_N2 type mechanisms. Trends in stereoselectivity across a series of compounds are more consistent with selective addition to oxacarbenium ions rather than a shift between S_N1 and S_N2 mechanisms.     

Gold mediated glycosylations: selective activation of propargyl 1,2-orthoesters in the presence of aglycones containing a propargyl moiety

Selective activation of propargyl 1,2-orthoesters in the presence of propargyl glycosides and propargyl ethers was studied; a catalytic amount of AuBr(3) activated the propargyloxy group of the 1,2-orthoester thereby giving access to disaccharides with the propargyl group at the reducing end; furthermore, propargyl ethers were unaffected under the reaction conditions.     

Dehydrative Thioglycosylation of 1‐Hydroxyl Glycosides Catalyzed by In Situ‐Generated AlI3

Thioglycosylation of 1‐hydroxyl glycosides catalyzed by in situ‐generated AlI₃ from elemental aluminium and molecular iodine has been developed. This method provides an alternative route to access anomeric thioglycosides without the use of hazard Lewis acidic activators or per‐modified activated thiol sources. The major advantages of this dehydrative procedure are environmental friendly, ease of operation, high anomeric diastereoselectivity, and mild reaction conditions.     

Platinum‐Catalyzed Multi‐Step Reaction of Propargyl Alcohols with N‐Heteroaromatics

N‐Methyl indole reacts with but‐2‐yn‐1‐ol in the presence of PtCl₂ in MeOH giving indole derivatives having a substituted 3‐oxobutyl group at the 3‐position in good yield. Under the reaction conditions, various substituted indoles and substituted propargyl alcohols are successfully involved in the reaction giving the corresponding addition products in good to moderate yields. The catalytic reaction can be further extended to N‐phenyl pyrrole. In the present multi‐step reaction, PtCl₂ likely plays dual roles: as the catalyst for the rearrangement of propargyl alcohols to the corresponding alkenyl ketones and as the catalyst for the addition of indoles to the alkenyl ketones. Experimental evidence is provided to support the proposed mechanism.     

Triaminocyclopentadienyl Ruthenium Complexes – New Catalysts for Cascade Conversions of Propargyl Alcohols

Various triaminocyclopentadienyl ruthenium complexes have been synthesized from Ru₃(CO)₁₂. The new complexes were tested for their ability to catalyze cascade conversions of propargyl alcohols. Their associated catalytic activities complement the activities of known diaminocyclopentadienone ruthenium complexes. In particular, the substrate scope of catalytic cycloadditions with 3-ketolactones or phloroglucinol derivatives is extended to terpenoid-derived propargyl alcohols containing an internal alkyne moiety. A wide range of cyclic terpenoid and phloroglucinol adducts are obtained by complementary application of both types of catalysts.     

Modified One‐Pot Protocol for the Preparation of Thioglycosides from Unprotected Aldoses via S‐Glycosyl Isothiouronium Salts*

An efficient one‐pot protocol for the direct preparation of thioglycosides starting from unprotected reducing sugars via S‐glycosyl isothiouronium salts is reported. In this one‐pot methodology, BF₃ · OEt₂ has been used as a general catalyst for both per‐O‐acetylation of sugars and conversion of sugar per‐O‐acetates into S‐glycosyl isothiouronium salts, which was allowed to react with alkylating agents in the presence of a base to furnish thioglycosides in excellent yield.     

Stereoselective Synthesis of α‐3‐Deoxy‐D‐manno‐oct‐2‐ulosonic Acid (α‐Kdo) Glycosides Using 5,7‐O‐Di‐tert‐butylsilylene‐Protected Kdo Ethyl Thioglycoside Donors

An efficient methodology for the synthesis of α‐Kdo glycosidic bonds has been developed with 5,7‐O‐di‐tert‐butylsilylene (DTBS) protected Kdo ethyl thioglycosides as glycosyl donors. The approach permits a wide scope of acceptors to be used, thus affording biologically significant Kdo glycosides in good to excellent chemical yields with complete α‐selectivity. The synthetic utility of an orthogonally protected Kdo donor has been demonstrated by concise preparation of two α‐Kdo‐containing oligosaccharides.     

A Streamlined Regenerative Glycosylation Reaction: Direct,Acid-Free Activation of Thioglycosides

Our group has previously reported that 3,3-difluoroxindole (HOFox) is able to mediate glycosylations via intermediacy of OFox imidates. Thioglycoside precursors were first converted into the corresponding glycosyl bromides that were then converted into the OFox imidates in the presence of Ag₂O followed by the activation with catalytic Lewis acid in a regenerative fashion. Reported herein is a direct conversion of thioglycosides via the regenerative approach that bypasses the intermediacy of bromides and eliminates the need for heavy-metal-based promoters. The direct regenerative activation of thioglycosides is achieved under neutral reaction conditions using only 1 equiv. NIS and catalytic HOFox without the acidic additives.     

Silver(I) tetrafluoroborate as a potent promoter for chemical glycosylation

We have identified silver tetrafluoroborate (AgBF₄) as an excellent promoter for the activation of various glycosyl donors including glycosyl halides, trichloroacetimidates, and thioimidates. Easy handling and no requirement for azeotropic dehydration prior to application makes AgBF₄ especially beneficial in comparison to the commonly used AgOTf. Selective activation of glycosyl halides or thioimidates over thioglycosides or n-pentenyl glycosides, including simple sequential one-pot syntheses, has also been demonstrated. Versatility of glycosyl thioimidates was further explored by converting these intermediates into a variety of other classes of glycosyl donors.     

Synthesis of 1,2-Bis[propargyl(or allyl)oxy]cycloalkanes

Reactions of cyclic olefins with propargyl and allyl alcohols in the presence of crystalline iodine and a catalytic amount of Ag₃PW₁₂O₄₀ afforded in one step trans-1,2-bis[propargyl(allyl)oxy]cycloalkanes.     

Gold-catalyzed glycosidations: unusual cleavage of the interglycosidic bond while studying the armed/disarmed effect of propargyl glycosides

Armed/disarmed effect of propargyl glycosides in the presence of AuBr₃ is studied. Observed that oxophilic AuBr₃ cleaves interglycosidic bond of an armed disaccharide resulting in the formation of a disaccharide and a 1,6-anhydro sugar. Trisaccharides were obtained after fine tuning the reactivity of the glycosyl donor with different protecting groups.     

Gold-Catalyzed Oxidative Aminocyclizations of Propargyl Alcohols and Propargyl Amines to Form Two Distinct Azacyclic Products: Carbene Formation versus a 3,3-Sigmatropic Shift of an Initial Intermediate

Gold-catalyzed oxidations of propargyl alcohols with nitrones by using a P(tBu)₂(o-biphenyl)Au⁺ catalyst, afforded bicyclic annulation products from the Mannich reactions of gold enolates. The same reactions of propargyl amines with nitrones by using the same gold catalyst gave distinct oxoarylation products. Our DFT calculations indicate that oxidation of propargyl alcohols with nitrones by using electron-rich gold catalysts lead only to gold carbenes, which can generate gold enolates or oxoarylation intermediates with enolate species having a barrier smaller than that of oxoarylation species.     

Synthesis of C-2 methylene glycosides from C-2 propargyloxymethyl glycals exploiting the alkynophilicity of AuCl3

C-2 Methylene glycosides were synthesized from C-2 propargyloxymethyl glycals in a stereoselective manner using a catalytic quantity of AuCl₃. The Au-catalyzed reaction was explored using various aglycones. The current protocol enables the preparation of C-2 methylene glycosides, tolerates diverse functional groups and is fast, catalytic and mild.     

Oligosaccharide Analogues of Polysaccharides

The α‐ and γ‐CD analogues 6 and 18 , which possess a hexa‐2,5‐diyne‐1,6‐dioxy unit, were synthesised by intramolecular coupling of the bis‐O‐propargylated maltohexaoside 4 , or the analogous maltooctaoside 16 , followed by deprotection. The dialkynylated linear oligosaccharides were obtained by glycosidation of propargyl alcohol with the thioglycosides 1 and 13 , reductive cleavage of the benzylidene acetal, and propargylation of the terminal HO−C(4) group, respectively. The β‐CD analogues 23 and 25 , which possess a penta‐1,3‐diyn‐1‐yl‐5‐oxy unit, were similarly obtained by intramolecular oxidative coupling of 20 and 21 , respectively. The linear dialkynylated oligosaccharides 20 and 21 were obtained by two consecutive glycosylations, first with the maltohexaosyl‐S‐glycoside 1 as donor, and then by glycosylation of the resulting propargyl maltohexoside with the C(4)‐ethynylated donor 19 . The proximity of the terminal units of maltooligosaccharides allowed a facile intramolecular cycloaddition of the azido alkyne 29 to the isomeric triazoles 30 and 31 , which were deprotected to 32 and 33 , respectively. Analysis of the intramolecular H‐bonds in 6, 23, 25, 32 , and 33 showed that insertion of a noncarbohydrate link interrupts a single flip‐flop H‐bond.     

CuBr/FeCl3 Catalysis: a Novel and Efficient Method for the Preparation of New Aryl (Iminomethyl)propargyl Ether Derivatives via C?H Activation of Aryl Propargyl Ethers

CuBr/FeCl₃ Catalysis as a novel and efficient method has been developed for the preparation of new aryl propargyl imine ether derivatives via C? H activation of aryl propargyl ethers, followed by reaction with imines generated from aldehydes and amines.