Mannosazide Methyl Uronate Donors. Glycosylating Properties and Use in the Construction of β-ManNAcA-Containing Oligosaccharides

Synthesis of 2-Amino-2-deoxy-β-d-mannosides via Stereoselective Anomeric O-Alkylation of 2N,3O-Oxazolidinone-Protected d-Mannosamine: Synthesis of the Trisaccharide Repeating Unit of Streptococcus pneumoniae 19F Polysaccharide

Cesium carbonate-mediated stereoselective anomeric O-alkylation of a 2N,3O-oxazolidinone-protected d-mannosamine with sugar-derived primary or secondary alkyl triflates afforded the corresponding 2-amino-2-deoxy-β-d-mannosides in moderate to good yields and excellent stereoselectivity. The oxazolidinone ring can be opened with aqueous alkali hydroxide to liberate the amine functionality. This method has been successfully applied to the synthesis of the trisaccharide repeating unit of Streptococcus pneumoniae 19F polysaccharide.

Total Synthesis of Trisaccharide Repeating Unit of Staphylococcus aureus Type 8 (CP8) Capsular Polysaccharide

Herein, we report a highly efficient total synthesis of Staphylococcus aureus type 8 trisaccharide repeating unit in a lesser number of steps and high stereoselectivity. The complex trisaccharide contains rare amino sugars, viz., d-fucosamine, l-fucosamine, and 2-acetamido d-mannuronic acid. The installation of consecutive sterically hindered 1,2-cis glycosidic linkages, especially β-mannosylation, is the key challenge in this synthesis. The total synthesis of target molecule was completed via a longest linear sequence of 18 steps in 7.1% overall yield.

Direct Synthesis of Glycans Containing Challenging ManNAcA Residues

A method for direct, highly stereoselective synthesis of glycans containing β-linked d-mannosaminuronic acid (ManNAcA) residues is reported herein, among which is the capsular polysaccharide of Staphylococcus aureus type 8. Previous chemical syntheses of this glycan relied on indirect methods comprising glucosylation followed by a multistep epimerization and oxidation sequence. The high β-stereocontrol with direct glycosidation of 3-O-picoloylated ManNAcA donors was achieved using the H-bond-mediated aglycone delivery (HAD) reaction. A method to achieve complete α-ManNAcA stereoselectivity with 3-O-benzoylated donors is also reported.

Recent Advances in Stereocontrolled Mannosylation: Focus on Glycans Comprising Acidic and/or Amino Sugars

The main focus of this review is to describe accomplishments made in the stereoselective synthesis of β-linked mannosides functionalized with carboxyls or amines/amides. These ManNAc, ManA and ManNAcA residues found in many glycoconjugates, bacterial polysaccharides, and alginates have consistently captured interest of the glycoscience community both due to synthetic challenge and therapeutic potential.

Stereoselective Synthesis of 2-Azido-2-deoxy-β-d-mannosides via Cs2CO3-Mediated Anomeric O-Alkylation with Primary Triflates: Synthesis of a Tetrasaccharide Fragment of Micrococcus luteus Teichuronic Acid

Cesium carbonate-mediated anomeric O-alkylation of various protected 2-azido-2-deoxy-d-mannoses with primary triflate electrophiles afforded corresponding 2-azido-2-deoxy-β-mannosides in good yields and excellent anomeric selectivity. In addition, 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin was found to be the optimal oxidant for preparation of those 2-azido-2-deoxy-d-mannoses from their corresponding thioglycosides. The utilization of this method was demonstrated in the synthesis of a tetrasaccharide fragment of Micrococcus luteus teichuronic acid containing N-acetyl-β-d-mannosaminuronic acid (ManNAcA).

Comparison of disaccharide donors for heparan sulfate synthesis: uronic acids vs. their pyranose equivalents

Late oxidation of hexose based building blocks or the use of uronic acid containing building blocks are two complementary strategies in the synthesis of glycosaminoglycans, the latter simplifiying the later stages of the process. Here we report the synthesis and evaluation of various disaccharide donors-uronic acids and their pyranose equivalents-for the synthesis of heparan sulfate, using an established protective group strategy. Hexose based "imidate" type donors perform well in the studied glycosylations, while their corresponding uronate esters fall short; a uronate ester thioglycoside performs equal to, if not better than, a hexose thioglycoside equivalent.

Glycosyl nitrates in synthesis: streamlined access to glucopyranose building blocks differentiated at C-2

In an attempt to refine a CAN-mediated synthesis of 1,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-α-d-glucopyranose (2-OH glucose) we unexpectedly discovered that this reaction proceeds via the intermediacy of glycosyl nitrates. Improved mechanistic understanding of this reaction led to the development of a more versatile synthesis of 2-OH glucose from a variety of precursors. Also demonstrated is the conversion of 2-OH glucose into a variety of building blocks differentially protected at C-2, a position that is generally hard to protect regioselectively in the glucopyranose series.

Automated Chemical Oligosaccharide Synthesis: Novel Approach to Traditional Challenges

Advances in carbohydrate chemistry have certainly made common oligosaccharides much more accessible. However, many current methods still rely heavily upon specialized knowledge of carbohydrate chemistry. The application of automated technologies to chemical and life science applications such as genomics and proteomics represents a vibrant field. These automated technologies also present opportunities for their application to organic synthesis, including that of the synthesis of oligosaccharides. However, application of automated methods to the synthesis of carbohydrates is an underdeveloped area as compared to other classes of biomolecules. The overarching goal of this review article is to present the advances that have been made at the interface of carbohydrate chemistry and automated technology.

Pre-activation Based Stereoselective Glycosylations

Due to the wide presence of carbohydrates in nature and their crucial roles in numerous important biological processes, oligosaccharides have attracted a lot of attention in synthetic organic chemistry community. Many innovative synthetic methods have been developed for oligosaccharide synthesis, among which the pre-activation based glycosylation is particularly noteworthy. Traditionally, glycosylation reactions are carried out when the glycosyl donor and the acceptor are both present when the promoter is added. In comparison, the pre-activation based glycosylation is unique, where the glycosyl donor is activated by the promoter in the absence of the acceptor. Upon complete donor activation, the acceptor is added to the reaction mixture enabling glycosylation. The key step in any oligosaccharide synthesis is the stereoselective formation of the glycosidic bond. As donor activation and acceptor glycosylation are temporally separated, pre-activation based glycosylation can bestow unique stereochemical control. This review systematically discusses factors impacting the stereochemical outcome of a pre-activation based glycosylation reaction including substituents on the glycosyl donor, reaction solvent, and additives. Applications of pre-activation based stereoselective glycosylation in assembly of complex oligosaccharides are also discussed.

Chemical synthesis of guanosine diphosphate mannuronic acid (GDP-ManA) and its C-4-O-methyl and C-4-deoxy congeners

Described is the first synthesis of guanosine diphosphate mannuronic acid (GDP-ManA), the sugar donor used by algae and bacteria for the production of alginate, an anionic polysaccharide composed of β-d-mannuronic acid (ManA) and α-l-guluronic acid (GulA). Understanding the biosynthesis of these polyanionic polysaccharides on the molecular level, opens up avenues to use and modulate the biosynthesis machinery for biotechnological and therapeutic applications. The synthesis reported here delivers multi-milligram amounts of the GDP-ManA donor that can be used to study the polymerase (Alg8 in Pseudomonas aeruginosa) that generates the poly-ManA chain. Also reported is the assembly of two close analogues of GDP-ManA: the first bears a C-4-O-methyl group, while the second has been deoxygenated at this position. Both molecules may be used as "chain stoppers" in future enzymatic ManA polymerisation reactions. The crucial pyrophosphate linkage of the GDP-mannuronic acids has been constructed by the phosphorylation of the appropriate ManA-1-phosphates with a guanosine phosphoramidite.

Total synthesis of a Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 12F CPS repeating unit hexasaccharide

The Gram-positive bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae causes severe disease globally. Vaccines that prevent S. pneumoniae infections induce antibodies against epitopes within the bacterial capsular polysaccharide (CPS). A better immunological understanding of the epitopes that protect from bacterial infection requires defined oligosaccharides obtained by total synthesis. The key to the synthesis of the S. pneumoniae serotype 12F CPS hexasaccharide repeating unit that is not contained in currently used glycoconjugate vaccines is the assembly of the trisaccharide β-D-GalpNAc-(1→4)-[α-D-Glcp-(1→3)]-β-D-ManpNAcA, in which the branching points are equipped with orthogonal protecting groups. A linear approach relying on the sequential assembly of monosaccharide building blocks proved superior to a convergent [3 + 3] strategy that was not successful due to steric constraints. The synthetic hexasaccharide is the starting point for further immunological investigations.

Mapping the Reactivity and Selectivity of 2-Azidofucosyl Donors for the Assembly of N-Acetylfucosamine-Containing Bacterial Oligosaccharides

The synthesis of complex oligosaccharides is often hindered by a lack of knowledge on the reactivity and selectivity of their constituent building blocks. We investigated the reactivity and selectivity of 2-azidofucosyl (FucN₃) donors, valuable synthons in the synthesis of 2-acetamido-2-deoxyfucose (FucNAc) containing oligosaccharides. Six FucN₃ donors, bearing benzyl, benzoyl, or tert-butyldimethylsilyl protecting groups at the C3-O and C4-O positions, were synthesized, and their reactivity was assessed in a series of glycosylations using acceptors of varying nucleophilicity and size. It was found that more reactive nucleophiles and electron-withdrawing benzoyl groups on the donor favor the formation of β-glycosides, while poorly reactive nucleophiles and electron-donating protecting groups on the donor favor α-glycosidic bond formation. Low-temperature NMR activation studies of Bn- and Bz-protected donors revealed the formation of covalent FucN₃ triflates and oxosulfonium triflates. From these results, a mechanistic explanation is offered in which more reactive acceptors preferentially react via an S_N2-like pathway, while less reactive acceptors react via an S_N1-like pathway. The knowledge obtained in this reactivity study was then applied in the construction of α-FucN₃ linkages relevant to bacterial saccharides. Finally, a modular synthesis of the Staphylococcus aureus type 5 capsular polysaccharide repeating unit, a trisaccharide consisting of two FucNAc units, is described.

Mechanistic Investigations into the Application of Sulfoxides in Carbohydrate Synthesis

The utility of sulfoxides in a diverse range of transformations in the field of carbohydrate chemistry has seen rapid growth since the first introduction of a sulfoxide as a glycosyl donor in 1989. Sulfoxides have since developed into more than just anomeric leaving groups, and today have multiple roles in glycosylation reactions. These include as activators for thioglycosides, hemiacetals, and glycals, and as precursors to glycosyl triflates, which are essential for stereoselective β-mannoside synthesis, and bicyclic sulfonium ions that facilitate the stereoselective synthesis of α-glycosides. In this review we highlight the mechanistic investigations undertaken in this area, often outlining strategies employed to differentiate between multiple proposed reaction pathways, and how the conclusions of these investigations have and continue to inform upon the development of more efficient transformations in sulfoxide-based carbohydrate synthesis.

Synthetic Enterobacterial Common Antigen (ECA) for the Development of a Universal Immunotherapy for Drug-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae

All Enterobacteriaceae express a polysaccharide known as enterobacterial common antigen (ECA), which is an attractive target for the development of universally acting immunotherapies. The first chemical synthesis of ECA-derived oligosaccharides for the development of such therapies is described. A number of synthetic challenges had to be addressed, including the development of concise synthetic procedures for unusual monosaccharides, the selection of appropriate orthogonal protecting groups, the development of stereoselective glycosylation methods, appropriate timing for the introduction of the carboxylic acid groups on the ManpNAcA moieties, and the selection of appropriate conditions for the reduction of multiple azido moieties. The synthetic compounds were employed to uncover immunodominant moieties of ECA. Furthermore, a monoclonal antibody (mAb) was developed that binds to ECA and can selectively recognize a wide range of Enterobacteriaceae species.

Stereocontrolled 1,2-cis glycosylation as the driving force of progress in synthetic carbohydrate chemistry

Recent developments in stereoselective 1,2-cis glycosylation that have emerged during the past decade are surveyed herein.

Recent developments in stereoselective 1,2-cis glycosylation that have emerged during the past decade are surveyed herein. For detailed coverage of the previous achievements in the field the reader is referred to our earlier reviews: A. V. Demchenko, Curr. Org. Chem. , 2003, 7 , 35–79 and Synlett , 2003, 1225–1240.

Synthesis of Staphylococcus aureus Type 5 trisaccharide repeating unit: solving the problem of lactamization

The chemical synthesis of an orthogonally protected trisaccharide derived from the polysaccharide of Staphylococcus aureus Type 5, which is an attractive candidate for the development of immunotherapies, is described. The challenging α-fucosylation and β-mannosylation are addressed through the careful choice of protecting groups. Lactamization of a β-D-ManpNAcA moiety during deprotection was avoided by a late stage oxidation approach. Versatility of the trisaccharide was demonstrated by its transformation into a spacer-containing repeating unit suitable for immunological investigations.

Solvent effects in the nucleophilic substitutions of tetrahydropyran acetals promoted by trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate: trichloroethylene as solvent for stereoselective C- and O-glycosylations

The selectivities of nucleophilic substitution reactions of tetrahydropyran acetals promoted by trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate depend upon the reaction solvent. Polar solvents favor the formation of S(N)1 products, while nonpolar solvents favor S(N)2 products. Trichloroethylene was identified as the solvent most likely to give S(N)2 products in both C- and O-glycosylation reactions.

A divergent approach to the synthesis of iGb3 sugar and lipid analogues via a lactosyl 2-azido-sphingosine intermediate

Isoglobotrihexosylceramide (iGb3, 1) is an immunomodulatory glycolipid that binds to CD1d and is presented to the T-cell receptor (TCR) of invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells.

Mannopyranosyl uronic acid donor reactivity

The reactivity of a variety of mannopyranosyl uronic acid donors was assessed in a set of competition experiments, in which two (S)-tolyl mannosyl donors were made to compete for a limited amount of promoter (NIS/TfOH). These experiments revealed that the reactivity of mannuronic acid donors is significantly higher than expected based on the electron-withdrawing capacity of the C-5 carboxylic acid ester function. A 4-O-acetyl-β-(S)-tolyl mannuronic acid donor was found to have similar reactivity as per-O-benzyl-α-(S)-tolyl mannose.