Design and synthesis of a structurally constrained aminoglycoside

The synthesis of a constrained tricyclic aminoglycoside derivative is described. This constrained compound fixes the spatial orientation of two critical rings for the minimal motif for binding to biological macromolecules such as RNA and proteins. Methanolysis of neomycin B under acidic conditions produced the bicyclic neamine. Transient protection by the Cu2+ ion and regioselective introduction of protective groups led to intermediate 7, which was used for a key annulation reaction that introduced the tricyclic nucleus into the structural framework. A final hydrogenolysis step to remove the protective groups produced the desired target molecule. The efficient eight-step synthesis was accomplished in 8% overall yield.