A Convergent Ring-Closing Metathesis Approach to Carbohydrate-Based Macrolides with Potential Antibiotic Activity

Solvent free, catalytic and diastereoselective preparation of aryl and alkyl thioglycosides as key components for oligosaccharide synthesis

A new and environmentally friendly protocol for the conversion of sugar per-acetates into thioglycosides under solvent free and catalytic conditions is presented. The procedure involves heating in the presence of InCl₃ and various aryl thiols. For alkyl thioglycoside synthesis, cyclohexane thiol was found to give good results and yield a glycosyl donor with reactivity similar to a thioethyl congener. The established optimum reaction conditions were found to provide the desired thioglycoside products in an easy and highly diastereoselective manner even when conducted on a multigram scale.

Stereoselective Synthesis of Diglycosyl Diacylglycerols with Glycosyl Donors Bearing a β-Stereodirecting 2,3-Naphthalenedimethyl Protecting Group

Diglycosyl diacylglycerols (DGDGs) are major components of Gram-positive bacterial plasma membranes and are involved in the immune response systems. The chemical synthesis of DGDGs has been highly demanded, as it will allow the elucidation of their biological functions at the molecular level. In this study, we have developed a novel β-stereodirecting 2,3-naphthalenedimethyl (NapDM) protecting group that is orthogonal to protecting groups commonly used in oligosaccharide synthesis. The NapDM group can be easily cleaved under TFA-mediated acidic conditions. Futhermore, we demonstrated the application of this protecting group to an acyl protecting-group-free strategy by utilizing the NapDM group for the synthesis of DGDGs. This strategy features the use of the β-stereodirecting NapDM group as an acid-cleavable permanent protecting group and late-stage glycosylation of monoglycosyl diacylglycerol acceptors, enabling the stereoselective synthesis of three different bacterial DGDGs with unsaturated fatty acid chain(s).

C-Glycopyranosyl Arenes and Hetarenes: Synthetic Methods and Bioactivity Focused on Antidiabetic Potential

This Review summarizes close to 500 primary publications and surveys published since 2000 about the syntheses and diverse bioactivities of C-glycopyranosyl (het)arenes. A classification of the preparative routes to these synthetic targets according to methodologies and compound categories is provided. Several of these compounds, regardless of their natural or synthetic origin, display antidiabetic properties due to enzyme inhibition (glycogen phosphorylase, protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B) or by inhibiting renal sodium-dependent glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2). The latter class of synthetic inhibitors, very recently approved as antihyperglycemic drugs, opens new perspectives in the pharmacological treatment of type 2 diabetes. Various compounds with the C-glycopyranosyl (het)arene motif were subjected to biological studies displaying among others antioxidant, antiviral, antibiotic, antiadhesive, cytotoxic, and glycoenzyme inhibitory effects.

Efficient one-pot per-O-acetylation–thioglycosidation of native sugars, 4,6-O-arylidenation and one-pot 4,6-O-benzylidenation–acetylation of S-/O-glycosides catalyzed by Mg(OTf)2

Sequential one-pot per-O-acetylation–S-/O-glycosidation under neat condition, regioselective 4,6-O-arylidenation and sequential one-pot benzylidenation–acetylation of Mg(OTf)₂as non-hygroscopic, recyclable catalyst are reported.

Structure-activity relationships for antibacterial to antifungal conversion of kanamycin to amphiphilic analogues

Novel fungicides are urgently needed. It was recently reported that the attachment of an octyl group at the O-4″ position of kanamycin B converts this antibacterial aminoglycoside into a novel antifungal agent. To elucidate the structure-activity relationship (SAR) for this phenomenon, a lead compound FG03 with a hydroxyl group replacing the 3″-NH2 group of kanamycin B was synthesized. FG03's antifungal activity and synthetic scheme inspired the synthesis of a library of kanamycin B analogues alkylated at various hydroxyl groups. SAR studies of the library revealed that for antifungal activity the O-4″ position is the optimal site for attaching a linear alkyl chain and that the 3″-NH2 and 6″-OH groups of the kanamycin B parent molecule are not essential for antifungal activity. The discovery of lead compound, FG03, is an example of reviving clinically obsolete drugs like kanamycin by simple chemical modification and an alternative strategy for discovering novel antimicrobials.

Studies on the diastereoselective oxidation of 1-thio-β-D-glucopyranosides: synthesis of the usually less favoured R(S) sulfoxide as a single diastereoisomer

A detailed study on the diastereoselective oxidation of 1-thio-β-D-glucopyranosides is reported. It has been shown that the sense and the degree of stereochemical outcome of the oxidation are highly dependent on the substituent of the sulfur and on the protective group of the C2-OH. In the case of thioglycosides with a bulky aglycone, the mesylation of C2-OH has a significant effect on the stereochemical outcome of the oxidation, affording the usually less favoured RS sulfoxide as a single diastereoisomer. The absolute configuration of the final sulfinyl glycosides was ascertained by NMR analysis and corroborated by X-ray crystallography.

De novo macrolide-glycolipid macrolactone hybrids: Synthesis, structure and antibiotic activity of carbohydrate-fused macrocycles

Natural product-like macrocycles were designed as potential antibacterial compounds. The macrocycles featured a D-glucose unit fused into a 12- or 13-member macrolactone. The rings are connected via the C6' and anomeric (C1') positions of the monosaccharide. The new macrocycles/macrolides were characterized by X-ray crystallography. Their structures showed that, in addition to the ester and alkene units, the dihedral angle about the glycosidic linkage (exo-anomeric effect) influenced the overall shape of the molecules. Glycosylation of an available hydroxy group on the macrocycle gave a hybrid macrolide with features common to erythromycin and sophorlipid macrolactone. Weak antibiotic activity (MICs <100 μg/mL) was observed for several of the compounds.

Synthesis and reactivity of 4'-deoxypentenosyl disaccharides

4-Deoxypentenosides (4-DPs) are versatile synthons for rare or higher-order pyranosides, and they provide an entry for structural diversification at the C5 position. Previous studies have shown that 4-DPs undergo stereocontrolled DMDO oxidation; subsequent epoxide ring-openings with various nucleophiles can proceed with both anti or syn selectivity. Here, we report the synthesis of α- and β-linked 4'-deoxypentenosyl (4'-DP) disaccharides, and we investigate their post-glycosylational C5' additions using the DMDO oxidation/ring-opening sequence. The α-linked 4'-DP disaccharides were synthesized by coupling thiophenyl 4-DP donors with glycosyl acceptors using BSP/Tf2O activation, whereas β-linked 4'-DP disaccharides were generated by the decarboxylative elimination of glucuronyl disaccharides under microwave conditions. Both α- and β-linked 4'-DP disaccharides could be epoxidized with high stereoselectivity using DMDO. In some cases, the α-epoxypentenosides could be successfully converted into terminal l-iduronic acids via the syn addition of 2-furylzinc bromide. These studies support a novel approach to oligosaccharide synthesis, in which the stereochemical configuration of the terminal 4'-DP unit is established at a post-glycosylative stage.

Total syntheses of the monoterpene indole alkaloids (±)-alstilobanine A and E and (±)-angustilodine

A synthetic strategy has been developed culminating in stereoselective total syntheses of the small class of unusual monoterpenoid indole alkaloids exemplified by alstilobanines A (3) and E (2) and angustilodine (1). A pivotal step includes a novel intermolecular Michael-type addition of an indole ester dianion to a piperidine-derived nitrosoalkene to form the C15, C16 bond of the alkaloids. In addition, an application of the Romo protocol for effecting a stereoselective intramolecular nucleophile-assisted aldol-lactonization was employed, leading to a β-lactone incorporating the requisite cis-fused 2-azadecalin moiety and also setting the C15, C19, C20 relative stereochemistry of the metabolites. It was then possible to stereoselectively effect an aldolization of a dianion derived from this indole ester β-lactone intermediate with formaldehyde to introduce the requisite C16 hydroxymethyl group. Further manipulations of the system ultimately led to the three alkaloids in racemic form.

Cytotoxic effects of C-glycosides in HOS and HeLa cell lines

Fifty-two C-glycosides were synthesized and their in-vitro antiproliferative activity screened against human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) and osteosarcoma (HOS) cell lines. Nine of them had growth inhibitions (GI(50) values) below 10 microM, the C-glucopyranoside 38 being the most active against HeLa (5.4 microM) and the dichlorocyclopropyl derivative 42 against HOS (1.6 microM). Some preliminary structure-activity relationships were established.

Carbohydrate-Based Macrolides Prepared via a Convergent Ring Closing Metathesis Approach: In Search for Novel Antibiotics

An efficient convergent approach has been developed for the construction of novel, nonnatural polysubstituted carbohydrate-based macrolides. A key step in the synthesis is the formation of the macrocyclic ring via a ring-closing metathesis reaction. The obtained macrolide analogues have been screened for biological activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, yeasts, and molds.

New Approach to the Synthesis of Macrocyclic Tetralactones via Ring-Closing Metathesis Using Grubbs' First-Generation Catalyst

A facile and efficient route to synthesize macrocyclic tetralactones with different ring sizes having a wide variety of spacers is described. The application of ring-closing metathesis for the synthesis of macrocyclic tetralactones is demonstrated with many examples in excellent yield. The representative structure of macrocyclic tetralactones is characterized by X-ray crystallography.

Highly Diastereoselective Thioglycosylation of Functionalized Peracetylated Glycosides Catalyzed by MoO2Cl2

Among 18 oxometallic species, MoO2Cl2 was found to be the most reactive in catalytic thioglycosylation of O-acetylated glycosides with functionalized thiols in CH2Cl2, leading cleanly to 1,2-trans-thioglycosides with exclusive diastereocontrol. The new catalytic protocol is applicable to a monoglycoside building block and beta-(1-->6)-S-linked-thiodisaccharide synthesis. [reaction: see text].

Antiproliferation and apoptosis induced by C-glycosides in human leukemia cancer cells

A large series of alkyl C-glycosides was synthesized from D-glucal or D-galactal. These compounds were screened against the human promyelocytic leukemia cell line (HL60), showing significant activity and apoptosis. Up to 13 C-glucopyranosides, but no C-galacto- or C-mannopyranosides, exhibited inhibitory concentrations (IC(50) values) below 20 microM, five of them in the range 4-8 microM. Preliminary structure-activity relationships were established.

Synthesis and screening of bicyclic carbohydrate-based compounds: A novel type of antivirals

A small library of bicyclic carbohydrate derivatives was synthesized and screened. A strong and selective activity against cytomegalovirus was found. Structure-activity relationship for this new type of antivirals is discussed.