The Stereodirecting Effect of the Glycosyl C5-Carboxylate Ester: Stereoselective Synthesis of β-Mannuronic Acid Alginates

Microwave-assisted synthesis of highly sulfated mannuronate glycans as potential inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2

Algae-based marine carbohydrate drugs are typically decorated with negative ion groups such as carboxylate and sulfate groups. However, the precise synthesis of highly sulfated alginates is challenging, thus impeding their structure-activity relationship studies. Herein we achieve a microwave-assisted synthesis of a range of highly sulfated mannuronate glycans with up to 17 sulfation sites by overcoming the incomplete sulfation due to the electrostatic repulsion of crowded polyanionic groups. Although the partially sulfated tetrasaccharide had the highest affinity for the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant, the fully sulfated octasaccharide showed the most potent interference with the binding of the RBD to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and Vero E6 cells, indicating that the sulfated oligosaccharides might inhibit the RBD binding to ACE2 in a length-dependent manner.

Conformationally restricted donors for stereoselective glycosylation

In nucleophilic reactions using sugars as electrophiles, i.e., glycosyl donors, their conformation affects the generation rate or stability of the glycosyl cation intermediates and determines at which side of the S_N2-S_N1 borderline and at what rate the reaction occurs. In addition, changes in the conformation create the steric or stereoelectronic effects of the substituents, which also change the reaction rate and stereoselectivity. Bulky silyl protecting groups, uronic acid esters, and transannular structures have been utilized to change the conformation. Consequently, reactions with unique reactivities and stereoselectivities have been developed. In this chapter, a discussion of the reaction mechanisms relating stereoselectivity to conformation is provided.

Alginate oligosaccharides: The structure-function relationships and the directional preparation for application

Alginate oligosaccharides (AOS) are degradation products of alginate extracted from brown algae. With low molecular weight, high water solubility, and good biological activity, AOS present anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antitumor properties. They also exert growth-promoting effects in animals and plants. Three types of AOS, mannuronate oligosaccharides (MAOS), guluronate oligosaccharides (GAOS), and heterozygous mannuronate and guluronate oligosaccharides (HAOS), can be produced from alginate by enzymatic hydrolysis. Thus far, most studies on the applications and biological activities of AOS have been based mainly on a hybrid form of HAOS. To improve the directional production of AOS for practical applications, systematic studies on the structures and related biological activities of AOS are needed. This review provides a summary of current understanding of structure-function relationships and advances in the production of AOS. The current challenges and opportunities in the application of AOS is suggested to guide the precise application of AOS in practice.

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.

Progress and challenges in the synthesis of sequence controlled polysaccharides

The sequence, length and substitution of a polysaccharide influence its physical and biological properties. Thus, sequence controlled polysaccharides are important targets to establish structure-properties correlations. Polymerization techniques and enzymatic methods have been optimized to obtain samples with well-defined substitution patterns and narrow molecular weight distribution. Chemical synthesis has granted access to polysaccharides with full control over the length. Here, we review the progress towards the synthesis of well-defined polysaccharides. For each class of polysaccharides, we discuss the available synthetic approaches and their current limitations.

Chemical synthesis of C6-tetrazole ᴅ-mannose building blocks and access to a bioisostere of mannuronic acid 1-phosphate

Alginate is a biocompatible and industrially relevant polysaccharide that derives many of its important properties from the charged carboxylate groups within its polyuronic acid backbone. The design and inclusion of isosteric replacements for these carboxylates would underpin provision of new oligo-/polysaccharide materials with alternate physicochemical properties. Presented herein is our synthesis of mannuronic acid building blocks, appropriately modified at the carboxylate C6 position with a bioisosteric tetrazole. Thioglycosides containing a protected C6-tetrazole are accessed from a C6-nitrile, through dipolar cycloaddition using NaN₃ with n-Bu₂SnO. We also demonstrate access to orthogonally C4-protected donors, suitable for iterative oligosaccharide synthesis. The development of these building blocks is showcased to access anomeric 3-aminopropyl- and 1-phosphate free sugars containing this non-native motif.

A versatile approach to the synthesis of glycans containing mannuronic acid residues

Reported herein is a new method for a highly effective synthesis of β-glycosides from mannuronic acid donors equipped with the 3-O-picoloyl group. The stereocontrol of glycosylations was achieved by means of the H-bond-mediated aglycone delivery (HAD). The method was utilized for the synthesis of a tetrasaccharide linked viaβ-(1 → 3)-mannuronic linkages. We have also investigated 3,6-lactonized glycosyl donors that provided moderate to high β-manno stereoselectivity in glycosylations. A method to achieve complete α-manno stereoselectivity with mannuronic acid donors equipped with 3-O-benzoyl group is also reported.

Chemical Synthesis of Homogeneous Human E-Cadherin N-Linked Glycopeptides: Stereoselective Convergent Glycosylation and Chemoselective Solid-Phase Aspartylation

We report herein an efficient chemical synthesis of homogeneous human E-cadherin N-linked glycopeptides consisting of a heptapeptide sequence adjacent to the Asn-633 N-glycosylation site with representative N-glycan structures, including a conserved trisaccharide, a core-fucosylated tetrasaccharide, and a complex-type biantennary octasaccharide. The key steps are a chemoselective on-resin aspartylation using a pseudoproline-containing peptide and stereoselective glycosylation using glycosyl fluororide as a donor. This synthetic strategy demonstrates potential utility in accessing a wide range of homogeneous N-linked glycopeptides for the examination of their biological function.

Preparation of alginate oligosaccharides and their biological activities in plants: A review

Alginate oligosaccharide (AOS) is the degradation product of alginates extracted from brown algae. As a multifunctional oligomer, it has attracted widespread attention in plant research. Different methods of preparation generate AOS possessing diverse structural properties, and result in differences in AOS activity. In this review, the methods of preparation and characterization of AOS are briefly summarized, followed by a systematic introduction to the activity and mechanisms of AOS in plants. AOS can act as a growth promoter at different growth stages of plants. AOS also enhances resistance to pathogens, drought, salt, heavy metals and other stressors by triggering plant immunity, exerting bioactivity just like a pathogen-associated molecular pattern. In addition, AOS can regulate ABA biosynthesis and metabolite to preserve fruit quality and enhance shelf life. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the biological activity of AOS in plants, which will support research and the application of AOS treatments for plants in the future.

Highly convergent synthesis of a β-mannuronic acid alginate hexadecasaccharide

Solution-phase synthesis of poly-β-mannuronic acids still remains unexplored. We report the first synthesis of a β-mannuronic acid alginate hexadecasaccharide representing the longest synthetic polymannuronic acid so far. The highly convergent synthetic approach provides a new avenue to access poly-β-mannuronic acids that can enable the biological evaluation of poly-β-mannuronic acids as potential therapeutics and vaccines.

Acceptor reactivity in glycosylation reactions

The effect of the reactivity of the glycosyl acceptor on the outcome of glycosylation reactions is reviewed.

Recent Advances in Pharmaceutical Potential of Brown Algal Polysaccharides and their Derivatives

Marine plants, animals and microorganisms display steady growth in the ocean and are abundant carbohydrate resources. Specifically, natural polysaccharides obtained from brown algae have been drawing increasing attention owing to their great potential in pharmaceutical applications. This review describes the structural and biological features of brown algal polysaccharides, including alginates, fucoidans, and laminarins, and it highlights recently developed approaches used to obtain the oligo- and polysaccharides with defined structures. Functional modification of these polysaccharides promotes their advanced applications in biomedical materials for controlled release and targeted drug delivery, etc. Moreover, brown algal polysaccharides and their derivatives possess numerous biological activities with anticancer, anticoagulant, wound healing, and antiviral properties. In addition, we also discuss carbohydrate- based substrates from brown algae, which are currently in clinical and preclinical studies, as well as the marine drugs that are already on the market. The present review summarizes the recent development in carbohydratebased products from brown algae, with promising findings that could rapidly facilitate the future discovery of novel marine drugs.

Exploring a glycosylation methodology for the synthesis of hydroxamate-modified alginate building blocks

Mixed sequence, C6-hydroxamate-modified alginate disaccharides are prepared using NIS/TMSOTf glycosylation.

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.

Synthesis of the Staphylococcus aureus Strain M Capsular Polysaccharide Repeating Unit

The synthesis of the Staphylococcus aureus strain M capsular polysaccharide repeating unit is reported. A postglycosylation oxidation strategy was utilized for the construction of the α-galactosaminuronic acid linkages, relying on a stereoselective 2-azido-4,6-O-di-tert-butylsilylidene galactopyranoside donor, for which the selectivity was assessed by model glycosylations. The α-fucosamine linkage was installed stereoselectively, using a reactive 2-azidofucosyl donor. An unexpected glycosidic bond cleavage during the TEMPO/PhI(OAc)₂-mediated oxidation of a disaccharide intermediate was circumvented by a TEMPO/PhI(OAc)₂-Pinnick oxidation protocol.

The influence of acceptor nucleophilicity on the glycosylation reaction mechanism

A set of model nucleophiles of gradually changing nucleophilicity is used to probe the glycosylation reaction mechanism. Glycosylations of ethanol-based acceptors, bearing varying amounts of fluorine atoms, report on the dependency of the stereochemistry in condensation reactions on the nucleophilicity of the acceptor. Three different glycosylation systems were scrutinized, that differ in the reaction mechanism, that - putatively - prevails during the coupling reaction. It is revealed that the stereoselectivity in glycosylations of benzylidene protected glucose donors are very susceptible to acceptor nucleophilicity whereas condensations of benzylidene mannose and mannuronic acid donors represent more robust glycosylation systems in terms of diastereoselectivity. The change in stereoselectivity with decreasing acceptor nucleophilicity is related to a change in reaction mechanism shifting from the SN2 side to the SN1 side of the reactivity spectrum. Carbohydrate acceptors are examined and the reactivity-selectivity profile of these nucleophiles mirrored those of the model acceptors studied. The set of model ethanol acceptors thus provides a simple and effective "toolbox" to investigate glycosylation reaction mechanisms and report on the robustness of glycosylation protocols.

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.

Automated fluorous-assisted solution-phase synthesis of β-1,2-, 1,3-, and 1,6-mannan oligomers

Automated solution-phase syntheses of β-1,2-, 1,3-, and 1,6-mannan oligomers have been accomplished by applying a β-directing C-5 carboxylate strategy. Fluorous-tag-assisted purification after each reaction cycle allowed the synthesis of short β-mannan oligomers with limited loading of glycosyl donor-as low as 3.0 equivalents for each glycosylation cycle. This study showed the capability of the automated solution-phase synthesis protocol for synthesizing various challenging glycosides, including use of a C-5 ester as a protecting group that could be converted under reductive conditions to a hydroxymethyl group for chain extension.

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.

Stereocontrolled (Me3Si)3SiH-Mediated Radical and Ionic Hydride Transfer in Synthesis of 2,3,5-Trisubstituted THF

2,3,5-Trisubstituted tetrahydrofurans were prepared stereoselectively through a two-step process involving the addition of an acyl radical to a β-silyloxy acrylic ester followed by an acid-catalyzed desilylation-ketalization sequence and a final oxocarbenium reduction step. High levels of 1,2- and 1,3-stereocontrol were attained when (Me3Si)3SiH was used as a radical followed by a ionic hydrogen transfer agent.

Theoretical Investigation of Solvent Effects on Glycosylation Reactions: Stereoselectivity Controlled by Preferential Conformations of the Intermediate Oxacarbenium-Counterion Complex

The mechanism of solvent effects on the stereoselectivity of glycosylation reactions is investigated using quantum-mechanical (QM) calculations and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, considering a methyl-protected glucopyranoside triflate as a glycosyl donor equivalent and the solvents acetonitrile, ether, dioxane, or toluene, as well as gas-phase conditions (vacuum). The QM calculations on oxacarbenium-solvent complexes do not provide support to the usual solvent-coordination hypothesis, suggesting that an experimentally observed β-selectivity (α-selectivity) is caused by the preferential coordination of a solvent molecule to the reactive cation on the α-side (β-side) of the anomeric carbon. Instead, explicit-solvent MD simulations of the oxacarbenium-counterion (triflate ion) complex (along with corresponding QM calculations) are compatible with an alternative mechanism, termed here the conformer and counterion distribution hypothesis. This new hypothesis suggests that the stereoselectivity is dictated by two interrelated conformational properties of the reactive complex, namely, (1) the conformational preferences of the oxacarbenium pyranose ring, modulating the steric crowding and exposure of the anomeric carbon toward the α or β face, and (2) the preferential coordination of the counterion to the oxacarbenium cation on one side of the anomeric carbon, hindering a nucleophilic attack from this side. For example, in acetonitrile, the calculations suggest a dominant B2,5 ring conformation of the cation with preferential coordination of the counterion on the α side, both factors leading to the experimentally observed β selectivity. Conversely, in dioxane, they suggest a dominant (4)H3 ring conformation with preferential counterion coordination on the β side, both factors leading to the experimentally observed α selectivity.

Automated Solution-Phase Synthesis of Insect Glycans to Probe the Binding Affinity of Pea Enation Mosaic Virus

Pea enation mosaic virus (PEMV)--a plant RNA virus transmitted exclusively by aphids--causes disease in multiple food crops. However, the aphid-virus interactions required for disease transmission are poorly understood. For virus transmission, PEMV binds to a heavily glycosylated receptor aminopeptidase N in the pea aphid gut and is transcytosed across the gut epithelium into the aphid body cavity prior to release in saliva as the aphid feeds. To investigate the role of glycans in PEMV-aphid interactions and explore the possibility of viral control through blocking a glycan interaction, we synthesized insect N-glycan terminal trimannosides by automated solution-phase synthesis. The route features a mannose building block with C-5 ester enforcing a β-linkage, which also provides a site for subsequent chain extension. The resulting insect N-glycan terminal trimannosides with fluorous tags were used in a fluorous microarray to analyze binding with fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled PEMV; however, no specific binding between the insect glycan and PEMV was detected. To confirm these microarray results, we removed the fluorous tag from the trimannosides for isothermal titration calorimetry studies with unlabeled PEMV. The ITC studies confirmed the microarray results and suggested that this particular glycan-PEMV interaction is not involved in virus uptake and transport through the aphid.

Chemoselective Cleavage of p-Methoxybenzyl and 2-Naphthylmethyl Ethers Using a Catalytic Amount of HCl in Hexafluoro-2-propanol

A new, fast, mild and chemoselective deprotection method to cleave p-methoxybenzyl and 2-naphthylmethyl ethers using catalytic amounts of hydrochloric acid in a 1:1 mixture of hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP) and methylene chloride (DCM) is described. The scope of the methodology becomes apparent from 14 examples of orthogonally protected monosaccharides that are subjected to HCl/HFIP treatment. The applicability of the HCl/HFIP method is illustrated by the synthesis of a sulfated β-mannuronic acid disaccharide.

Automated Solution-Phase Synthesis of β-1,4-Mannuronate and β-1,4-Mannan

The first automated solution-phase synthesis of β-1,4-mannuronate and β-1,4-mannan oligomers has been accomplished by using a β-directing C-5 carboxylate strategy. By utilizing fluorous-tag assisting purification after repeated reaction cycles, β-1,4-mannuronate was synthesized up to a hexasaccharide with limited loading of a glycosyl donor (up to 3.5 equiv) for each glycosylation cycle due to the homogeneous solution-phase reaction condition. After a global reduction of the uronates, the β-1,4-mannan hexasaccharide was obtained, thereby demonstrating a new approach to β-mannan synthesis.

Is an acyl group at O-3 in glucosyl donors able to control α-stereoselectivity of glycosylation? The role of conformational mobility and the protecting group at O-6

The stereodirecting effect of a 3-O-acetyl protecting group, which is potentially capable of the remote anchimeric participation, and other protecting groups in 2-O-benzyl glucosyl donors with flexible and rigid conformations has been investigated. To this aim, an array of N-phenyltrifluoroacetimidoyl and sulfoxide donors bearing either 3-O-acetyl or 3-O-benzyl groups in combination with 4,6-di-O-benzyl, 6-O-acyl-4-O-benzyl, or 4,6-O-benzylidene protecting groups was prepared. The conformationally flexible 3-O-acetylated glucosyl donor protected at other positions with O-benzyl groups demonstrated very low or no α-stereoselectivity upon glycosylation of primary or secondary acceptors. On the contrary, 3,6-di-O-acylated glucosyl donors proved to be highly α-stereoselective as well as the donor having a single potentially participating acetyl group at O-6. The 3,6-di-O-acylated donor was shown to be the best α-glucosylating block for the primary acceptor, whereas the best α-selectivity of glycosylation of the secondary acceptor was achieved with the 6-O-acylated donor. Glycosylation of the secondary acceptor with the conformationally constrained 3-O-acetyl-4,6-O-benzylidene-protected donor displayed under standard conditions (-35°C) even lower α-selectivity as compared to the 3-O-benzyl analogue. However, increasing the reaction temperature essentially raised the α-stereoselectivities of glycosylation with both 3-O-acetyl and 3-O-benzyl donors and made them almost equal. The stereodirecting effects of protecting groups observed for N-phenyltrifluoroacetimidoyl donors were also generally proven for sulfoxide donors.

Structural and functional characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa AlgX: role of AlgX in alginate acetylation

The exopolysaccharide alginate, produced by mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients, undergoes two different chemical modifications as it is synthesized that alter the properties of the polymer and hence the biofilm. One modification, acetylation, causes the cells in the biofilm to adhere better to lung epithelium, form microcolonies, and resist the effects of the host immune system and/or antibiotics. Alginate biosynthesis requires 12 proteins encoded by the algD operon, including AlgX, and although this protein is essential for polymer production, its exact role is unknown. In this study, we present the X-ray crystal structure of AlgX at 2.15 Å resolution. The structure reveals that AlgX is a two-domain protein, with an N-terminal domain with structural homology to members of the SGNH hydrolase superfamily and a C-terminal carbohydrate-binding module. A number of residues in the carbohydrate-binding module form a substrate recognition "pinch point" that we propose aids in alginate binding and orientation. Although the topology of the N-terminal domain deviates from canonical SGNH hydrolases, the residues that constitute the Ser-His-Asp catalytic triad characteristic of this family are structurally conserved. In vivo studies reveal that site-specific mutation of these residues results in non-acetylated alginate. This catalytic triad is also required for acetylesterase activity in vitro. Our data suggest that not only does AlgX protect the polymer as it passages through the periplasm but that it also plays a role in alginate acetylation. Our results provide the first structural insight for a wide group of closely related bacterial polysaccharide acetyltransferases.

Divergent synthetic approach to 6''-modified α-GalCer analogues

A synthetic approach is presented for the synthesis of galacturonic acid and D-fucosyl modified KRN7000. The approach allows for late-stage functionalisation of both the sugar 6''-OH and the sphingosine amino groups, which enables convenient synthesis of promising 6''-modified KRN7000 analogues.

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.