Conformations of methyl 2,5-di-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucofuranosidurono-6,3-lactone and 1,2,5-tri-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucofuranurono-6,3-lactone in the crystal structure and in solution

Identification of the furanose ring conformations and the factors driving their adoption

Three groups of furanoses with restricted freedom of rotation on the C3-C4, C2-C3, and C1-C2 bonds, respectively, are presented. Conformational analysis of these furanoses is conducted based on the proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) spectroscopy, density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and X-ray analysis. It is shown that the particular group of the presented furanoses is locked in the specific conformation. These are the ¹T₂-like, the ⁰E-like, and the ³T₄-like conformation, respectively. Characteristic ¹H NMR spectra of these three conformations are presented and the factors influencing the conformational preferences of the analyzed furanoses are discussed.

Characteristic 1H NMR spectra of β-d-ribofuranosides and ribonucleosides: factors driving furanose ring conformations

A series of β-d-ribofuranosides and ribonucleosides fused with 2,3-O-isopropylidene ring was synthesized and studied in terms of their conformational preferences. Based on the ¹H NMR spectra, DFT calculations, and X-ray analysis the E₀-like and E₄-like conformations adopted by these furanosides are identified. The ³E-like and ²E-like conformations are assigned to ribonucleosides without the 2,3-O-isopropylidene group. The studies are supported by analysis of the structural data of β-d-ribofuranosides and ribonucleosides deposited in the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Center (CCDC) database.† Finally, the factors influencing the conformational preferences of the furanose ring with the β-d-ribo configuration are indicated. These are the unfavorable ecliptic orientation of the 2-OH and 3-OH groups, the 1,3-pseudodiaxial interaction of the aglycone and terminal hydroxymethyl group and the endo-anomeric effect. It is also proved that the exo-anomeric effect acts in β-d-ribofuranosides.

The 2,3-O-isopropylidene group locks β-d-ribofuranosides in the E₀-like conformation whereas ribonucleosides in the E₄-like conformation. The conformational preferences of β-d-ribofuranosides are determined by the anomeric effect.

Conformational studies of N-(α-d-glucofuranurono-6,3-lactone)- and N-(methyl β-d-glucopyranuronate)-p-nitroanilines

N-(α-d-Glucofuranurono-6,3-lactone)-p-nitroaniline and N-(methyl β-d-glucopyranuronate)-p-nitroaniline were obtained as crystalline solids. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction, NMR data and DFT calculations for N-(α-d-glucofuranurono-6,3-lactone)-p-nitroaniline indicate that this N-furanoside adopts a ³T₂/³E-like conformation in the crystal lattice, solution and gas phase. Thus, the structure of recorded for N-furanoside ¹H NMR spectrum is indicative of the ³T₂/³E region of the pseudorotational itinerary for furanose derivatives with α-d-gluco, β-L-ido and α-d-xylo configurations. Moreover, it is concluded that the ¹T₂/E₂/³T₂/³E region of the pseudorotational itinerary for furanose derivatives with d-gluco, L-ido and d-xylo configurations should be characterised by the lack of coupling between H2 and H3 protons, irrespective of the anomeric configuration. Such a lack of vicinal coupling is characteristic for some of the trans-oriented furanose ring protons. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction and NMR data for N-(methyl β-d-glucopyranuronate)-p-nitroaniline indicate that this N-glucuronide adopts the ⁴C₁ conformation, both in the crystal lattice and solution. The occurrence of anomeric effects in the presented N-glycosides is discussed. The crystal structure analysis of both N-glycosides gives evidence that the amine group in p-nitroaniline is planar due to the nitrogen sp² hybridisation.

The conformational behavior, geometry and energy parameters of Menshutkin-like reaction of O-isopropylidene-protected glycofuranoid mesylates in view of DFT calculations

The formation of pyridinium salts in the transformation of three O-isopropylidene-protected mesylates of furanoid sugar derivatives under pyridine action is considered at the B3LYP/6-31+G** computation level. All the structures were optimized in the gas phase, in chloroform and water. Activation barrier heights in the gas phase were also estimated at the B3LYP/6-311++G**, MPW1K/6-31+G** and MPW1K/6-311++G** levels. The conducted calculations, both in the gas phase (regardless of the computation level) and in solvents, revealed the barrier height increasing order as follows: 1>2>3 for the three reactions studied. The conformational behavior of the five-membered ring is discussed in the gas phase and in solvents. The fused dioxolane ring makes the furanoid ring less likely to undergo conformational changes. In the case of reaction 3, the furanoid ring shape does not change either in the gas phase or in solvents. All conformers are close to E0 or (0)E.

A fused [3.3.0]-neoglycoside lactone derived from glucuronic acid

The bridged next-generation aminoglycoside (neoglycoside), 1-deoxy-1-[(methoxy)methylamino)]-2,5-di-O-triethylsilyl-β-D-glucofuranurono-γ-lactone {systematic name: (3S,3aS,5R,6R,6aS)-5-[methoxy(methyl)amino]-3,6-bis[(triethylsilyl)oxy]-2,3,3a,5,6,6a-hexahydrofuro[3,2-b]furan-2-one}, C20H41NO6Si2, was synthesized in a one-pot manner from commercially available D-glucuronic acid. This structure supports the properties associated with the anomeric effect for furanosides and can be employed to provide insight into the mechanisms by which alkoxyamine-appended natural products derive their enhanced biological activity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first published crystal structure of a bicyclic neoglycoside and is the first neoglycoside to be completely and unambiguously characterized.