Oligosaccharide Analogues of Polysaccharides. Part 1. Concept and synthesis of monosaccharide-derived monomers

It is proposed to study the influence of interresidue H-bonds on the structure and properties of polysaccharides by comparing them to a series of systematically modified oligosaccharide analogues where some or all of the glycosidic O-atoms are replaced by buta-1,3-diyne-1,4-diyl groups. This group is long enough to interrupt the interresidue H-bonds, is chemically versatile, and allows a binomial synthesis. Several approaches to the simplest monomeric unit required to make analogues of cellulose are described. In the first approach, allyl α-D -galactopyranoside ( 1 ) was transformed via 2 and the tribenzyl ether 3 into the triflate 4 (Scheme 2). Substitution by cyanide (→ 5–7 ) followed by reduction with DIBAH led in high yield to the aldehyde 9 , which was transformed into the dibromoalkene 10 and the alkyne 11 following the Corey-Fuchs procedure (Scheme 3). The alkyne was deprotected via 12 or directly to the hemiacetal 13 . Oxidation to the lactone 14 , followed by addition of lithium (trimethylsilyl)acetylide Me₃SiC?CLi/CeCl₃ (→ 15 ) and reductive dehydroxylation afforded the disilylated dialkyne 16 . The large excess of Pd catalyst required for the transformation 11 → 13 was avoided by deallylating the dibromoalkene 10 (→ 17 → 18 ), followed by oxidation to the lactone 19 , addition of Me₃SiC?CLi to the anomeric hemiketals 20 (α-D /β-D 7:2), dehydroxylation to 21 , and elimination to the monosilylated dialkyne 22 (Scheme 3). In an alternative approach, treatment of the epoxide 24 (from 23 ) with Me₃SiC?CLi/Et₂AlCl according to a known procedure gave not only the alkyne 27 but also 25 , resulting from participation of the MeOCH₂O group (Scheme 4). Using Me₃Al instead of Et₂AlCl increased the yield and selectivity. Deprotection of 27 (→ 28 ), dibenzylation (→ 29 ), and acetolysis led to the diacetate 30 which was partially deacetylated (→ 31 ) and oxidized to the lactone 32 . Addition of Me₃SiC?CLi/TiCl₄ afforded the anomeric hemiketals 33 (α-D /β-D 3:2) which were deoxygenated to the dialkyne 34 . This synthesis of target monomers was shortened by treating the hydroxy acetal 36 (from 27 ) with (Me₃SiC?C)₃Al (Scheme 5): formation of the alkyne 37 (70%) by fully retentive alkynylating acetal cleavage is rationalised by postulating a participation of HOC(3). The sequence was further improved by substituting the MeOCH₂O by the (i-Pr)₃SiO group (Scheme 6); the epoxide 38 (from 23 ); yielded 85% of the alkyne 39 which was transformed, on the one hand, via 40 into the dibenzyl ether 29 , and, on the other hand, after C-desilylation (→ 41 ) into the dialkyne 42 . Finally, combined alkynylating opening of the oxirane and the 1,3-dioxolane rings of 38 with excess Et₂Al C?CSiMe₃ led directly to the monomer 43 which is thus available in two steps and 77% yield from 23 (Scheme 6).