Synthesis of fully protected α-l-fucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-d-galactopyranosides with a single free hydroxy group at position 2′, 3′ or 4′ using O-(2-naphthyl)methyl (NAP) ether as a temporary protecting group

Experimental observations on the reductive cleavage of endo and exo 3,4-O-benzylidene fucopyranoside derivatives

Reductive cleavage of methyl 3,4-O-benzylidene-α-L-fucopyranosides with BH3·THF-TfOH and NaCNBH3-TfOH systems resulted in enhanced reaction rates and selectivity compared to BH3·THF-Bu2BOTf. With this latter system, the nature of the O-2 substituent exerted a clear control on the reactivity but practically did not affect the regioselectivity. With TfOH the direction of cleavage was determined, as expected, by the configuration of the acetal carbon atom, but slightly influenced by its competitive epimerization. Protic conditions provided higher regioselectivity in the openings of the exo isomers, affording a useful approach to the practical synthesis of 3-O-benzyl ethers.

Synthesis and Antibody Binding Studies of Schistosome-Derived Oligo-α-(1-2)-l-Fucosides

Schistosomiasis is caused by blood-dwelling parasitic trematodes of the genus Schistosoma and is classified by the WHO as the second most socioeconomically devastating parasitic disease, second only to malaria. Schistosoma expresses a complex array of glycans as part of glycoproteins and glycolipids that can be targeted by both the adaptive and the innate part of the immune system. Some of these glycans can be used for diagnostic purposes. A subgroup of schistosome glycans is decorated with unique α-(1-2)-fucosides and it has been shown that these often multi-fucosylated fragments are prime targets for antibodies generated during infection. Since these α-(1-2)-fucosides cannot be obtained in sufficient purity from biological sources, we set out to develop an effective route of synthesis towards α-(1-2)-oligofucosides of varying length. Here we describe the exploration of two different approaches, starting from either end of the fucose chains. The oligosaccharides have been attached to gold nanoparticles and used in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ELISA and a microarray format to probe antibody binding. We show that binding to the oligofucosides of antibodies in sera of infected people depends on the length of the oligofucose chains, with the largest glycans showing most binding.

Total synthesis of trifluorobutyryl-modified, globally protected sialyl Lewis x by a convergent [2+2] approach

Structural and quantitative changes in the expression of sialic acid residues on the surface of eukaryotic cells profoundly influence a broad range of biological processes including inflammation, antigen recognition, microbial attachment, and tumor metastasis. Uptake and incorporation of sialic acid analogues in mammalian cells enable structure-function studies and perturbation of specific recognition events. Our group has recently shown that a trifluorobutyryl-modified sialic acid metabolite diminishes the adhesion of mammalian cells to E and P-selectin, presumably by leading to the expression of fluorinated sLex epitopes on cell surfaces, and interfering with the sLex-selectin interactions that are well known in mediating tumor cell migration.1 For studies directed towards understanding the molecular basis of this reduced adhesion, chemical synthesis of trifluorobutyrylated sialyl Lewis x (C4F3--sLex) was crucial. We have developed a highly efficient [2+2] approach for the assembly of C4F3-sLex on a preparative scale that contains versatile protective groups allowing the glycan to be surface immobilized or solubilized as needed for biophysical studies to investigate selectin interactions. This strategy can, in principle, be used for preparation of other N-modified sLex analogues.

Synthesis, antigenicity against human sera and structure-activity relationships of carbohydrate moieties from Toxocara larvae and their analogues

Stereocontrolled syntheses of biotin-labeled oligosaccharide portions containing the Galβ1-3GalNAc core of the TES-glycoprotein antigen obtained from larvae of the parasite Toxocara and their analogues have been accomplished. Trisaccharides Fuc2Meα1-2Gal4Meβ1-3GalNAcα1-OR (A), Fucα1-2Gal4Meβ1-3GalNAcα1-OR (B), Fuc2Meα1-2Galβ1-3GalNAcα1-OR (C), Fucα1-2Galβ1-3GalNAcα1-OR (D) and a disaccharide Fuc2Meα1-2Gal4Meβ1-OR (E) (R = biotinylated probe) were synthesized by block synthesis using 5-(methoxycarbonyl)pentyl-2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→3)-2-azide-4-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-α-D-galactopyranoside as a common glycosyl acceptor. We examined the antigenicity of these five oligosaccharides by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Our results demonstrate that the O-methyl groups in these oligosaccharides are important for their antigenicity and the biotinylated oligosaccharides A, B, C and E have high serodiagnostic potential to detect infections caused by Toxocara larvae.

Stereoselective assembly of complex oligosaccharides using anomeric sulfonium ions as glycosyl donors

The development of selectively protected monosaccharide building blocks that can reliably be glycosylated with a wide variety of acceptors is expected to make oligosaccharide synthesis a more routine operation. In particular, there is an urgent need for the development of modular building blocks that can readily be converted into glycosyl donors for glycosylations that give reliably high 1,2-cis-anomeric selectivity. We report here that 1,2-oxathiane ethers are stable under acidic, basic, and reductive conditions making it possible to conduct a wide range of protecting group manipulations and install selectively removable protecting groups such as levulinoyl (Lev) ester, fluorenylmethyloxy (Fmoc)- and allyloxy (Alloc)-carbonates, and 2-methyl naphthyl ethers (Nap). The 1,2-oxathiane ethers could easily be converted into bicyclic anomeric sulfonium ions by oxidization to sulfoxides and arylated with 1,3,5-trimethoxybenzene. The resulting sulfonium ions gave high 1,2-cis-anomeric selectivity when glycosylated with a wide variety of glycosyl acceptors including properly protected amino acids, primary and secondary sugar alcohols and partially protected thioglycosides. The selective protected 1,2-oxathianes were successfully employed in the preparation of a branched glucoside derived from a glycogen-like polysaccharide isolated form the fungus Pseudallescheria boydii , which is involved in fungal phagocytosis and activation of innate immune responses. The compound was assembled by a latent-active glycosylation strategy in which an oxathiane was employed as an acceptor in a glycosylation with a sulfoxide donor. The product of such a glycosylation was oxidized to a sulfoxide for a subsequent glycosylation. The use of Nap and Fmoc as temporary protecting groups made it possible to install branching points.

Novel galactosyl donor with 2-naphthylmethyl (NAP) as the non participating group at C-2 position: Efficient synthesis of alpha-galactosyl ceramide

Predominant alpha-linked products can be generated in glycosylation involving galactosyl trichloroacetimidate donors with 2-naphthylmethyl (NAP) as the non participating group at C-2 position. The above donor was successfully utilized for the synthesis of alpha-galactosyl ceramide.

A Method of Orthogonal Oligosaccharide Synthesis Leading to a Combinatorial Library Based on Stationary Solid-Phase Reaction

A new, efficient synthesis of oligosaccharides, which involves solid-phase reactions without mixing in combination with an orthogonal-glycosylation strategy, is described. Despite a great deal of biological interest, the combinatorial chemistry of oligosaccharides is an extremely difficult subject. The problems include 1) lengthy synthetic protocols required for the synthesis and 2) the variety of glycosylation conditions necessary for individual reactions. These issues were addressed and solved by using the orthogonal-coupling protocol and the application of a temperature gradient to provide appropriate conditions for individual reactions. Furthermore, we succeeded in carrying out solid-phase reactions with neither mechanical mixing nor flow. In this report, the synthesis of a series of trisaccharides, namely, alpha/beta-L-Fuc-(1-->6)-alpha/beta-D-Gal-(1-->2/3/4/6)-alpha/beta-D-Glc-octyl, is reported to demonstrate the eligibility of the synthetic method in combinatorial chemistry.

1-naphthylpropargyl ether group: a readily cleaved and sterically minimal protecting system for stereoselective glycosylation

[reaction: see text] The (1-naphthyl)propargyl group is introduced as a sterically unobtrusive alcohol protecting group that is cleaved in a single step by exposure to dichlorodicyanoquinone in wet dichloromethane. In conjunction with the 4,6-O-benzylidene protecting group, and the use of the sulfoxide glycosylation method, 3-O-naphthylpropargyl-protected mannosyl donors are extremely beta-selective.