Synthesis of s-linked glycoconjugates and s-disaccharides by thiol-ene coupling reaction of enoses

Free-radical hydrothiolation of the endocyclic double bond of enoses is reported. Reaction between 2-acetoxy-d-glucal and a range of thiols including amino acid, peptide, glycosyl thiols, and sugars with primary or secondary thiol functions gave S-linked α-glucoconjugates and S-disaccharides with full regio- and stereoselectivity. Addition of glycosyl thiols to a 2,3-unsaturated glycoside also proceeded with good selectivity and afforded a series of 3-deoxy-S-disaccharides.     

Octakis(3‐azidopropyl)octasilsesquioxane: A Versatile Nanobuilding Block for the Efficient Preparation of Highly Functionalized Cube‐Octameric Polyhedral Oligosilsesquioxane Frameworks Through Click Assembly

A one‐step synthesis of octakis(3‐azidopropyl)octasilsesquioxane from commercially available octakis(3‐aminopropyl)octasilsesquioxane has been developed through a highly efficient diazo‐transfer reaction under very mild conditions. Nonaflyl azide is shown to be a safer, cheaper, and more efficient reagent for this transformation than the better known and generally used diazo‐transfer reagent triflyl azide. Octakis(3‐azidopropyl)octasilsesquioxane is an excellent nanobuilding block that can be readily octafunctionalized with a range of terminal alkynes by copper(I)‐catalyzed 1,3‐dipolar azide–alkyne cycloaddition to provide new functional nanocages, maintaining a perfect 3D cubic symmetry. The mildness, simplicity, and efficiency of this approach have been demonstrated in the preparation of a glyco‐polyhedral oligosilsesquioxane (POSS) conjugate and a BODIPY–POSS cluster (BODIPY=boron dipyrromethene).     

Immobilization of multifunctional silsesquioxane cage on precipitated silica supports

Synthesis of octakis({3-glycidoxypropyl}dimethylsiloxy) octasilsesquioxane (G-POSS) was carried out based on a reaction involving the hydrosilylation of allyl glycidyl ether with octakis(dimethylsiloxy) octasilsesquioxane, using Karstedt’s catalyst and toluene. SiO₂/POSS hybrid systems were obtained via a method of immobilization by evaporation of the solvent, using hydrated or spherical silica obtained by precipitation in an aqueous or emulsion environment. The surface of the SiO₂ was modified using octakis({3-glycidoxypropyl}dimethylsiloxy) octasilsesquioxane (G-POSS). The effectiveness of the modification of the obtained hybrid materials was verified using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance (²⁹Si and ¹³C CP MAS NMR). The tests showed that the interactions between the silica support and the modifier are of the nature of chemical adsorption. In addition a mechanism was proposed for the interactions between silica and oligosilsesquioxane. To test the final effect, the hybrid systems were subjected to morphological evaluation (transmission electron microscopy). Parameters of porous structure of the products were also determined: the specific surface area, pore diameter and pore volume. Thermal stability was tested for the pure silsesquioxane cage, the initial silica supports and the resulting systems. Elemental analysis was also carried out to determine the effect of surface modification on the degree of coverage with a particular POSS compound.     

Exhaustive glycosylation, PEGylation, and glutathionylation of a [G4]-ene(48) dendrimer via photoinduced thiol-ene coupling

We report in this paper the use of free-radical thiol-ene coupling (TEC) for the introduction of carbohydrate, poly(ethylene glycol), and peptide fragments at the periphery of an alkene functional dendrimer. Four different sugar thiols including glucose, mannose, lactose and sialic acid, two PEGylated thiols and the natural tripeptide glutathione were reacted with a fourth generation alkene functional dendrimer [G4]-ene(48) upon irradiation at λ(max) 365 nm. In all cases, the (1)H NMR spectra of the crude reaction mixture revealed the complete disappearance of alkene proton signals indicating the quantitative conversion of all 48 alkene groups of the dendrimer. With one exception only, all dendrimer conjugates were isolated in high yields (70-94%), validating the high efficiency of multiple TEC reactions on a single substrate. All isolated and purified compounds were analyzed by MALDI-TOF spectrometry and gave spectra consistent with the assigned structure.     

A comparison of biological and calorimetric analyses of multivalent glycodendrimer ligands for concanavalin A

The cluster glycoside effect — the observation that multivalent glycosides bind to their polyvalent protein receptors with apparent affinities greater than those that can be rationalized solely on the basis of valency — is by now a well established phenomenon. As part of a continuing effort to provide a molecular basis for the cluster glycoside effect, we report here the synthesis of two series of mannosylated dendritic ligands and their performance in a range of competitive and non-competitive binding assays, including hemeagglutination inhibition (HIA), enzyme-linked lectin assays (ELLA) and isothermal titration microcalorimetry (ITC). The first series of ligands contained a semi-rigid glycylglycine spacer and showed no significant performance enhancement in any binding studies. The second series of ligands contained a flexible tetraethylene glycol spacer; these ligands showed marked enhancements at tetravalent and hexavalent levels in both HIA (IC₅₀=3 and<0.8 μM, respectively) and ITC (K_A=6.2×10⁴ and 1.5×10⁶ M⁻¹, respectively) studies. In all cases, the thermodynamic parameters of association are consistent with non-specific aggregation rather than enhanced lectin–ligand affinity. This conclusion is reinforced by the lack of enhancements in ligand activity observed in ELLA studies.     

Synthesis and use of glycosyl phosphates as glycosyl donors

Differentially protected glycosyl phosphates prepared by a straightforward synthesis from glycal precursors are used as powerful glycosyl donors. Activation of beta-glycosyl phosphates by TMSOTf at -78 degrees C achieves the selective formation of beta-glycosidic linkages in excellent yields with complete stereoselectivity. Reaction with thiols results in the conversion of glycosyl phosphates into thioglycosides in nearly quantitative yield. An orthogonal coupling strategy using glycosyl phosphate donors and thioethyl glycoside acceptors allows for the rapid synthesis of a trisaccharide.     

Azobenzene‐Functionalized Cage Silsesquioxanes as Inorganic–Organic Hybrid,Photoresponsive, Nanoscale,Building Blocks

Mono‐ and octa‐azobenzene‐functionalized cage silsesquioxanes were easily synthesized by the reaction of 4‐bromoazobenzene with monovinyl‐substituted octasilsesquioxane and cubic octavinylsilsesquioxane through the Heck coupling reaction. Excited‐state energies obtained from time‐dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) and the CAM‐B3LYP functional correlate very well with experimental trans–cis photoisomerization results from UV/Vis spectroscopy. These azobenzene‐functionalized cages exhibit good thermal stability and are fluorescent with maximum emission at approximately 400 nm, making them potential materials for blue‐light emission.     

Synthesis of alkenyl sulfides through the iron-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of vinyl halides with thiols

We report here the iron-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of alkyl vinyl halides with thiols. While many works are devoted to the coupling of thiols with alkyl vinyl iodides, interestingly, the known S-vinylation of vinyl bromides and chlorides is limited to 1-(2-bromovinyl)benzene and 1-(2-chlorovinyl)benzene. Investigation on the coupling reaction of challenging alkyl vinyl bromides and chlorides with thiols is rare. Since the coupling of 1-(2-bromovinyl)benzene and 1-(2-chlorovinyl)benzene with thiols can be performed in the absence of any catalyst, here we focus on the coupling of thiols with alkyl vinyl halides. This system is generally reactive for alkyl vinyl iodides and bromides to provide the products in good yields. 1-(Chloromethylidene)-4-tert-butyl-cyclohexane was also coupled with thiols, giving the targets in moderate yields.     

Selectivity among two lectins: probing the effect of topology, multivalency and flexibility of "clicked" multivalent glycoclusters

The design of multivalent glycoconjugates has been developed over the past decades to obtain high-affinity ligands for lectin receptors. While multivalency frequently increases the affinity of a ligand for its lectin through the so-called "glycoside cluster effect", the binding profiles towards different lectins have been much less investigated. We have designed a series of multivalent galactosylated glycoconjugates and studied their binding properties towards two lectins, from plant and bacterial origins, to determine their potential selectivity. The synthesis was achieved through copper(I)-catalysed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) under microwave activation between propargylated multivalent scaffolds and an azido-functionalised carbohydrate derivative. The interactions of two galactose-binding lectins from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA-IL) and Erythrina cristagalli (ECA) with the synthesized glycoclusters were studied by hemagglutination inhibition assays (HIA), surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and isothermal titration microcalorimetry (ITC). The results obtained illustrate the influence of the scaffold's geometry on the affinity towards the lectin and also on the relative potency in comparison with a monovalent galactoside reference probe.     

Self-assembled alkanethiol monolayers on a Zn substrate: structure and organization

This work concerns a first step toward the use of self-assembled monolayers derived from thiols as coupling layers between a zinc surface and organic coatings. The adsorption, structure, and aging of alkanelthiol monolayers on zinc substrates have been studied by contact angle measurements, infrared spectroscopy, and electrochemistry. The thiols self-assemble on the zinc surface to form a highly hydrophobic monolayer. The molecules are well organized with very few gauche defects, oriented nearly normal to the surface, and protect the zinc from oxidation in a neutral aqueous medium.     

Synthesis of phosphorylcholine-oligoethylene glycol-alkane thiols and their suppressive effect on non-specific adsorption of proteins

A series of phosphorylcholine-oligoethylene glycol-alkane thiols were synthesized, and their suppressive effect on the non-specific adsorption of proteins was evaluated by comparison with corresponding oligoethylene glycol-alkane thiols. It was found that phosphorylcholine-oligoethylene glycol-alkane thiols had a greater suppressive effect on the non-specific adsorption of proteins.     

Effect of pH and generation of dendron on single‐step synthesis of gold nanoparticles using PEGylated polyamidoamine dendron in aqueous medium

Three types of PEGylated polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrons were synthesized through PEGylation of primary amines at the periphery of second, third, and fourth generation dendrons. Au(III) precursors and the synthesized PEGylated PAMAM dendrons were mixed at various pHs to evaluate the effect of pH on gold nanoparticle (Au NP) synthesis by monitoring the change in surface plasmon resonance. The Au NP synthesis reaction was controlled by pH through the balance between protonated and deprotonated tertiary amines and the reactivity of Au(III) precursors. By using PEGylated PAMAM dendrons with higher generation, the obtained Au NPs had narrow size distribution with small average size because of the limitation of intermolecular space among PEGylated PAMAM dendrons for the growth to Au NP. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 1391–1398, 2010     

Efficient nickel/N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed C-S cross-coupling

The cross-coupling reaction of aryl halides with aliphatic and aromatic thiols catalyzed by readily available Ni(OAc)₂ with N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) is reported. Ni(OAc)₂/NHC catalyst showed good activities toward various aryl halides in C-S coupling reaction, even with aryl chlorides. Reactions occurred in excellent yields, broad scope, and high tolerance of functional groups.     

l-Proline promoted cross-coupling of vinyl bromide with thiols catalyzed by CuBr in ionic liquid

A method for the synthesis of vinyl sulfides by the coupling of vinyl bromides with thiols using the copper(I) bromide as catalyst and l-proline as ligand was reported. The best yields were obtained in the ionic liquid [Bmim]BF₄ with the retention of stereochemistry. This protocol is palladium-free, tolerates both aromatic and aliphatic thiols, possesses good selectivity between alcohol and thiol, and does not require the use of expensive or air-sensitive additives.     

Iron-catalyzed thioesterification of methylarenes with thiols in water

An iron-catalyzed coupling reaction of methylarenes with thiols leading to thioesters has been developed. The reactions were carried out in water with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as the oxidant and polyoxyethanyl α-tocopheryl sebacate (PTS) as the surfactant. The reaction medium is compatible with a series of functional groups and can be reused.     

A liquid-crystalline silsesquioxane dendrimer exhibiting chiral nematic and columnar mesophases

A hexadecamer, first-generation, octasilsesquioxane liquid-crystalline dendrimer was synthesized by a platinum-catalyzed hydrosilylation reaction of the parent first-generation vinyl octasilsesquioxane dendrimer with a modified, laterally substituted mesogen. The structure and purity of the octasilsesquioxane substrate was confirmed by 1H, 13C, and 29 Si NMR spectroscopy, microanalysis, and size exclusion chromatography (SEC). The mesogenic substrate was found to exhibit only a chiral nematic phase, whereas the resulting hexadecamer dendrimer displays enantiotropic chiral nematic, disordered hexagonal columnar, and disordered rectangular columnar phases, with a glass transition below room temperature. The lateral or side-on attachment of the mesogen to the dendritic core was found to be a key design feature in the formation of the mesophases.     

Cage octaphenylsilsesquioxane from cyclic tetrasiloxanetetraol and its sodium salt

Cage octasilsesquioxane with various substituents were obtained by the condensation reaction of various all-cis cyclic tetrasiloxanetetraol (R-T₄-tetraol, R = phenyl, p-tolyl, i-butyl, naphthyl) with benzyltrimethylammonium hydroxide or tetrabutylammonium fluoride as a catalyst. Co-condensation of phenyl-T₄-tetraol with phenyl-d₅-T₄-tetraol or with p-tolyl-T₄-tetraol were found to proceed through reshuffling process evidenced by scrambling of the substituents. Pure octa(4-bromo-substituted phenyl)octasilsesquioxane was synthesized for the first time from tetra(4-bromo-substituted phenyl)tetrasiloxanetetraol sodium salt.     

Janus‐Cube Octasilsesquioxane: Facile Synthesis and Structure Elucidation

A perfect “Janus‐cube” octasilsesquioxane, a nanometer‐scale Janus particle with two different types of substituents, was synthesized through the cross‐coupling of a “half‐cube” cyclic sodium siloxanolate with another half‐cube cyclic fluorosiloxane. The structure was confirmed by X‐ray crystallography to be a Janus cube. The overall synthesis is simple and does not require drastic separation methods compared with previous methods. The synthesis of the Janus cube demonstrates a novel siloxane bond‐forming reaction involving the coupling a silanol salt and fluorosilane. The reaction is mild, does not result in acid generation, and could be applied to the construction of other novel siloxane compounds.     

Purification and analysis of mono‐PEGylated HSA by hydrophobic interaction membrane chromatography

We discuss the purification of mono‐PEGylated HSA by hydrophobic interaction membrane chromatography. The hydrophobicity difference between the different fractionated species was induced by the addition of a lyotropic salt that caused phase transition of PEG (hydrophilic under normal condition) to a mildly hydrophobic form. The HSA PEGylation reaction mixture was mixed with lyotropic salt and passed through a stack of hydrophilized polyvinylidene fluoride membrane discs. Unmodified HSA was obtained in the flow through, while the PEGylated forms of the protein bound to the membrane and could be eluted by reducing the salt concentration. Among the three major PEGylated forms of HSA present in the feed (i.e. mono–, di–, and tri–), mono‐PEGylated HSA was eluted first and could be resolved from the others. The purified material was analyzed by SDS‐PAGE, dynamic light scattering, and SEC combined with multi‐angle light scattering. All these analytical techniques indicated the presence of species that has a molar mass consistent with mono‐PEGylated HSA. A scaled‐down version of the membrane chromatographic methods could be used for the rapid and sensitive analysis of PEGylated proteins.     

Synthesis and conjugation of a sulfated disaccharide involved in the aggregation process of the marine sponge Microciona prolifera

The synthesis is reported of allyl (sodium 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosyl 3-sulfate)-(1→3)-α-l-fucopyranoside which represents an oligosaccharide fragment of the aggregation factor of the marine sponge Microciona prolifera. The title compound was obtained by coupling of 3-O-allyloxycarbonyl-2-deoxy-4,6-O-isopropylidene-2-phthalimido-β-d-glucopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate with allyl 2,4-di-O-benzoyl-α-l-fucopyranoside, followed by de-isopropylidenation, acetylation, de-allyloxycarbonylation, sulfation, de-acylation, and finally N-acetylation. The allyl glycoside was eventually converted into a 3-(2-aminoethylthio)propyl glycoside and then coupled to bovine serum albumin (BSA) using diethyl squarate as the bivalent linker, yielding 8 hapten molecules per molecule of BSA.