Highly stereoselective synthesis of furano-oxepanes: intramolecular nitrone cycloaddition (INC) reactions on sugar derived 2-substituted allylic ethers

The stereoselective synthesis of furano-oxepanes has been achieved from sugar ethers by an intramolecular nitrone cycloaddition (INC) reaction. The substitution at the 2-position of the allylic group aided in the exclusive formation of oxepanes.     

Synthesis and conformational studies of peptidomimetics containing furanoid sugar amino acids and a sugar diacid

Furanoid sugar amino acids (1) were synthesized and used as dipeptide isosteres to induce interesting turn structures in small linear peptides. They belong to a new variety of designed hybrid structures that carry both amino and carboxyl groups on rigid furanose sugar rings. Four such molecules, 6-amino-2,5-anhydro-6-deoxy-D-gluconic acid (3, Gaa) and its mannonic (4, Maa), idonic (5, Iaa), and a 3,4-dideoxyidonic (6, ddIaa) congeners were synthesized. The synthesis followed a novel reaction path in which an intramolecular 5-exo S(N)2 opening of the hexose-derived terminal aziridine ring in 2 by the gamma-benzyloxy oxygen with concomitant debenzylation occurred during pyridinium dichromate oxidation of the primary delta-hydroxyl group to carboxyl function, leading to the formation of furanoid sugar amino acid frameworks in a single step. Incorporation of these furanoid sugar amino acids into Leu-enkephalin replacing its Gly-Gly portion gave analogues 8-11. Detailed structural analysis of these molecules by circular dichroism (CD) and various NMR techniques in combination with constrained molecular dynamics (MD) simulations revealed that two of these analogues, 8a and 10a, have folded conformations composed of an unusual nine-membered pseudo beta-turn-like structure with a strong intramolecular H-bond between LeuNH --> sugarC3-OH. This, in turn, brings the two aromatic rings of Tyr and Phe in close proximity, a prerequisite for biological activities of opioid peptides. The analgesic activities of 8a,b determined by mouse hot-plate and tail-clip methods were similar to that of Leu-enkephalin methyl ester. The syn disposition of the beta-hydroxycarboxyl motif on the sugar rings appears to be the driving force to nucleate the observed turn structures in some of these molecules (8 and 10). Repetition of the motif on both sides of a furanose ring resulted in a novel molecular design of sugar diacid, 2,5-anhydro-D-idaric acid (7, Idac). Bidirectional elongation of the diacid moieties of 7 with identical peptide strands led to the formation of a C2-symmetric reverse-turn mimetic 12 which displayed a very ordered structure consisting of identical intramolecular H-bonds at two ends between LeuNH --> sugar-OH, the same as in 8 and 10.     

The structure of the proton skeleton in 1,3-butadieneiron Tricarbonyl as determined from the NMR spectra of oriented molecules

¹H NMR spectra of 1,3-butadieneiron tricarbonyl oriented in a nematic liquid crystal solvent have been analysed and used to derive the structure of the proton skeleton, which is found to be non-planar. The distance of the anti protons from the plane defined by the remaining four protons is 0.77 ± 0.06 ±.     

11/9-mixed helices in the alpha/beta-peptides derived from alternating alpha- and beta-amino acids with proteinogenic side chains

alpha/beta-Hybrid peptides are prepared from amino acids with proteinogenic side chains on the basis of the concept of "alternating chirality", involving D-Phe and a beta3-hVal. Through the extensive NMR, CD, and MD studies, robust left-handed 11/9-mixed helices were identified in these peptides in CDCl3 solutions, wherein the 11/9-mixed helix was observed even in a small peptide with three residues.     

Robust mixed 10/12 helices promoted by "alternating chirality" in a new family of C-linked carbo-beta-peptides

The C-linked carbo-beta-peptides, oligomers of a new class of C-linked carbo-beta3-amino acids, have been shown to generate mixed 12/10 and 10/12 helices. The design involves use of "alternating chirality" of the epimeric (at the amine center) monomers to control the stability of these helices. The observation of stable 12/10 helix in a tripeptide and 10/12 helix in a tetrapeptide is unprecedented.