Asymmetric synthesis of novel thioiso dideoxynucleosides with exocyclic methylene as potential antiviral agents

Construction of thioglycoside bonds via an asymmetric organocatalyzed sulfa-Michael/aldol reaction: access to 4'-thionucleosides

Thioglycoside bond formation via an asymmetric sulfa-Michael/aldol reaction of (E)-β-nucleobase acrylketones and 1,4-dithiane-2,5-diol has been achieved with a cinchona alkaloid-derived bifunctional squaramide chiral catalyst. Diverse purine, benzimidazole, and imidazole substrates are well tolerated and generate 4'-thionucleoside derivatives containing three contiguous stereogenic centers with excellent results (30 examples, up to 97% yield, >20 : 1 dr and up to 99% ee). Moreover, the novel strategy provides an efficient and convenient synthetic route to construct chiral 4'-thionucleosides.

Nutlin-3a-aa: Improving the Bioactivity of a p53/MDM2 Interaction Inhibitor by Introducing a Solvent-Exposed Methylene Group

Nutlin-3a is a reversible inhibitor of the p53/MDM2 interaction. We have synthesized the derivative Nutlin-3a-aa bearing an additional exocyclic methylene group in the piperazinone moiety. Nutlin-3a-aa is more active than Nutlin-3a against purified wild-type MDM2, and is more effective at increasing p53 levels and releasing transcription of p53 target genes from MDM2-induced repression. X-ray analysis of wild-type MDM2-bound Nutlin-3a-aa indicated that the orientation of its modified piperazinone ring was altered in comparison to the piperazinone ring of MDM2-bound Nutlin-3a, with the exocyclic methylene group of Nutlin-3a-aa pointing away from the protein surface. Our data point to the introduction of exocyclic methylene groups as a useful approach by which to tailor the conformation of bioactive molecules for improved biological activity.

Asymmetric Synthesis of 3-Amine-tetrahydrothiophenes with a Quaternary Stereocenter via Nickel(II)/Trisoxazoline-Catalyzed Sulfa-Michael/Aldol Cascade Reaction: Divergent Access to Chiral Thionucleosides

A generally useful Ni(II)/trisoxazoline-catalyzed asymmetric sulfa-Michael/Aldol cascade reaction is introduced to access chiral 3-amine-tetrahydrothiophene derivatives containing a quaternary stereocenter (32 examples, up to 93% yield, > 20:1 dr and 92% ee). Moreover, the novel strategy offers an efficient and convenient approach to construct chiral thionucleoside analogues.

Nucleosides with Transposed Base or 4'-Hydroxymethyl Moieties and Their Corresponding Oligonucleotides

This review focuses on 4'-hydroxymethyl- or nucleobase-transposed nucleosides, nucleotides, and nucleoside phosphonates, their stereoisomers, and their close analogues. The biological activities of all known 4'-hydroxymethyl- or nucleobase-transposed nucleosides, nucleotides, and nucleoside phosphonates as potential antiviral or anticancer agents are compiled. The routes that have been taken for the chemical synthesis of such nucleoside derivatives are described, with special attention to the innovative strategies. The enzymatic synthesis, base-pairing properties, structure, and stability of oligonucleotides containing nucleobase- or 4'-hydroxymethyl-transposed nucleotides are discussed. The use of oligonucleotides containing nucleobase- or 4'-hydroxymethyl-transposed nucleotides as small oligonucleotide (e.g., human immunodeficiency virus integrase) inhibitors, in applications such as antisense therapy, silencing RNA (siRNA), or aptamer selections, is detailed.

Exomethylene pyranonucleosides: Efficient synthesis and biological evaluation of 1-(2,3,4-trideoxy-2-methylene-β-d-glycero-hex-3-enopyranosyl)thymine

A new series of unsaturated pyranonucleosides with an exocyclic methylene group and thymine as heterocyclic base have been designed and synthesized. d-Galactose (1) was readily transformed in three steps into the corresponding 1-(beta-d-galactopyranosyl)thymine (2). Selective protection of the primary hydroxyl group of 2 with a t-butyldimethylsilyl (TBDMS) group, followed by specific acetalation, and oxidation gave 1-(6-O-t-butyldimethylsilyl-3,4-O-isopropylidene-beta-d-lyxo-hexopyranosyl-2-ulose)thymine (5). Wittig reaction of the ketonucleoside 5, deprotection and tritylation of the 6'-hydroxyl group gave 1-(2-deoxy-2-methylene-6-O-trityl-beta-d-lyxo-hexopyranosyl)thymine (9). Exomethylene pyranonucleoside 9 was converted to the olefinic derivative 10, which after detritylation afforded the title compound 1-(2,3,4-trideoxy-2-methylene-beta-d-glycero-hex-3-enopyranosyl)thymine (11). These novel synthesized compounds were evaluated for antiviral activity against rotaviral infection and cytotoxicity in colon cancer. As compared to AZT, compounds 1-(2-deoxy-2-methylene-beta-d-lyxo-hexopyranosyl)thymine (7) and 1-(beta-d-lyxo-hexopyranosyl-2-ulose)thymine (8) showed to be more efficient, in rotavirus infections and in treatment of colon cancer.