Site-Selective O-Arylation of Glycosides

A Modified Arbuzov-Michalis Reaction for Selective Alkylation of Nucleophiles

The alkylation of nucleophiles is among the most fundamental and well-developed transformations in chemistry. However, to achieve selective alkylation of complex substrates remains a nontrivial task. We report herein a general and selective alkylation method without using strong acids, bases, or metals. In this method, the readily available phosphinites/phosphites, in combination with ethyl acrylate, function as effective alkylating agents. Various nucleophilic groups, including alcohols, phenols, carboxylic acids, imides, and thiols can be alkylated. This method can be applied in the late-stage alkylation of natural products and pharmaceutical agents, achieving chemo- and site-selective modification of complex substrates. Experimental studies indicate the relative reactivity of a nucleophile depends on its acidity and its steric environment. Mechanistic studies suggest the reaction pathway resembles that of the Arbuzov-Michalis reaction.

Enantioconvergent and Site-Selective Etherification of Carbohydrate Polyols through Chiral Copper Radical Catalysis

Going beyond currently reported two electron transformations that formed the core backdrop of asymmetric catalytic site-selective carbohydrate polyol functionalizations, we herein report a seminal demonstration of an enantioconvergent copper catalyzed site-selective etherification of minimally protected saccharides through a single-electron radical pathway. Further, this strategy paves a rare strategy, through which a carboxamide scaffold that is present in some glycomimetics of pharmacological relevance, can be selectively introduced. In light of the burgeoning interest in chiral radical catalysis, and the virtual absence of such stereocontrol broadly in carbohydrate synthesis, our strategy showcased the unknown capability of chiral radical copper catalysis as a contemporary tool to address the formidable site-selectivity challenge on a remarkable palette of naturally occurring saccharides. When reducing sugars were employed, a further dynamic kinetic resolution type glycosylation can be activated by the catalytic system to selectively generate the challenging β-O-glycosides.

Advancing carbohydrate functionality: The role of hypervalent iodine

Hypervalent iodine reagents have undergone significant development and widespread application in the functionalization of carbohydrates. This is primarily attributed to their exceptional properties, including mildness, ease of handling, high selectivity, environmental friendliness, and stability. This review aims to emphasize the utilization of hypervalent iodine compounds in the functionalization of carbohydrates. The present article covers various aspects, including glycal functionalization, C-H or N-H insertion reactions, O-arylations, C-2 deoxy-2-iodo glycoconjugates, iminosugars, and C3-oxo-glycals, achieved through the use of hypervalent iodine reagents/catalysts. Additionally, it explores hypervalent iodine-mediated bioactive 1,3,5-trioxocane synthesis followed by rare sugars synthesis.

Asymmetric Pd/Organoboron-Catalyzed Site-Selective Carbohydrate Functionalization with Alkoxyallenes Involving Noncovalent Stereocontrol

Herein, we demonstrate the robustness of a synergistic chiral Pd/organoboron system in tackling a challenging suite of site-, regio-, enantio- and diastereoselectivity issues across a considerable palette of biologically relevant carbohydrate polyols, when prochiral alkoxyallenes were employed as electrophiles. In view of the burgeoning role of noncovalent interactions (NCIs) in stereoselective carbohydrate synthesis, our mechanistic experiments and DFT modeling of the reaction path unexpectedly revealed that NCIs such as hydrogen bonding and CH-π interactions between the resting states of the Pd-π-allyl complex and the borinate saccharide are critically involved in the stereoselectivity control. Our strategy thus illuminates the untapped potential of harnessing NCIs in the context of transition metal catalysis to tackle stereoselectivity challenges in carbohydrate functionalization.

Hypervalent Iodine Compounds in Carbohydrate Chemistry: Glycosylation, Functionalization and Oxidation

This mini review article provides an overview on the use of hypervalent iodine compounds (HICs) in carbohydrate synthesis, focusing on their chemistry and recent applications. HICs are similar to transition metals in their reactivity but have the added benefit of being environmentally benign, and are therefore commonly used as selective oxidants and eco-friendly reagents in organic synthesis. Herein, we summarize various synthetic uses of hypervalent iodine reagents in reactions such as glycosylation, oxidations, functionalization, and C-C bond-forming reactions. The goal of this review is to illustrate the advantages and versatility of using HICs as an environmentally sustainable alternative to heavy metals in carbohydrate chemistry.

A useful strategy for synthesis of the disaccharide of OSW-1

A flexible, efficient, and practical synthesis route was developed to synthesize an OSW-1 disaccharide. The synthesis took 13 steps from l-arabinose and d-xylose derivatives, and the overall yield was 7.2%. The region preferentially protects various d-xylose hydroxides because the TBS group selectively reacts with this hydroxide at low concentrations due to greater activity at the C-4 hydroxyl of d-xylose. Then, high efficiency selectively protects C-2 hydroxyl and C-3 hydroxyl of d-xylose, respectively. The first high yield of glycosylation on an OSW-1 synthesis disaccharide was achieved by taking sulfide donor 4 with β-PMP anomeric l-arabinose acceptor 12. The cytotoxicity reveals that the analogy has a high IC50 for a variety of cell types. This approach should provide a versatile way to modify OSW-1's disaccharide.

Catalytic Approaches to Chemo- and Site-Selective Transformation of Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are a fundamental unit playing pivotal roles in all the biological processes. It is thus essential to develop methods for synthesizing, functionalizing, and manipulating carbohydrates for further understanding of their functions and the creation of sugar-based functional materials. It is, however, not trivial to develop such methods, since carbohydrates are densely decorated with polar and similarly reactive hydroxy groups in a stereodefined manner. New approaches to chemo- and site-selective transformations of carbohydrates are, therefore, of great significance for revolutionizing sugar chemistry to enable easier access to sugars of interest. This review begins with a brief overview of the innate reactivity of hydroxy groups of carbohydrates. It is followed by discussions about catalytic approaches to enhance, override, or be orthogonal to the innate reactivity for the transformation of carbohydrates. This review avoids making a list of chemo- and site-selective reactions, but rather focuses on summarizing the concept behind each reported transformation. The literature references were sorted into sections based on the underlying ideas of the catalytic approaches, which we hope will help readers have a better sense of the current state of chemistry and develop innovative ideas for the field.

Mechanistic Study of the Copper(II)-Mediated Site-Selective O-Arylation of Glycosides with Arylboronic Acids

Glycosides having multiple free OH groups have been shown to undergo site-selective O-arylations in the presence of arylboronic acids and copper(II) acetate. Herein, a mechanistic analysis of these Chan-Evans-Lam-type couplings is presented based on reaction kinetics, mass spectrometric analysis of reaction mixtures, and substituent effect studies. The results establish that the formation of a substrate-derived boronic ester accelerates the rate-determining transmetalation step. Intramolecular transfer of the aryl group from the boronic ester is ruled out in favor of a pathway in which the key pre-transmetalation assembly is generated from a boronic ester, a copper complex, and a second equivalent of arylboronic acid.

A synergistic Rh(I)/organoboron-catalysed site-selective carbohydrate functionalization that involves multiple stereocontrol

Site-selective functionalization is a core synthetic strategy that has broad implications in organic synthesis. Particularly, exploiting chiral catalysis to control site selectivity in complex carbohydrate functionalizations has emerged as a leading method to unravel unprecedented routes into biologically relevant glycosides. However, robust catalytic systems available to overcome multiple facets of stereoselectivity challenges to this end still remain scarce. Here we report a synergistic chiral Rh(I)- and organoboron-catalysed protocol, which enables access into synthetically challenging but biologically relevant arylnaphthalene glycosides. Our method depicts the employment of chiral Rh(I) catalysis in site-selective carbohydrate functionalization and showcases the utility of boronic acid as a compatible co-catalyst. Crucial to the success of our method is the judicious choice of a suitable organoboron catalyst. We also determine that exquisite multiple aspects of stereocontrol, including enantio-, diastereo-, regio- and anomeric control and dynamic kinetic resolution, are concomitantly operative.

Direct α-C-H Alkylation of Structurally Diverse Alcohols via Combined Tavaborole and Photoredox Catalysis

Herein, we report a method that uses antifungal tavaborole as a co-catalyst for direct α-C-H alkylation of structurally diverse alcohols through photoredox catalysis. The protocol features mild conditions, remarkable scope, and wide functional group tolerance, which allows for the construction of a wide array of highly functionalized alcohols, including homoserine derivatives and C-glycosyl amino acids. We also demonstrate the synthetic applications of this methodology to the late-stage functionalization of pharmaceuticals and natural products.

Controlling the Site Selectivity in Acylations of Amphiphilic Diols: Directing the Reaction toward the Apolar Domain in a Model Diol and the Midecamycin A1 Macrolide Antibiotic

Seeking to improve the site selectivity of acylation of amphiphilic diols, which is induced by imidazole-based nucleophilic catalysts and directs the reaction toward apolar sites, as we recently reported, we examined a new improved catalytic design and an alteration of the acylating agent. The new catalysts performed slightly better selectivity-wise in the model reaction, compared to the previous set, but notably could be prepared in a much more synthetically economic way. The change of the acylating agent from anhydride to acyl chloride, particularly in combination with the new catalysts, accelerated the reaction and increased the selectivity in favor of the apolar site. The new selectivity-inducing techniques were applied to midecamycin, a natural amphiphilic antibiotic possessing a secondary alcohol moiety in each of its two domains, polar as well as apolar. In the case of the anhydride, a basic dimethylamino group, decorating this substrate, overrides the catalyst's selectivity preference and forces selective acylation of the alcohol in the polar domain with a more than 91:1 ratio of the monoacylated products. To counteract the internal base influence, an acid additive was used or the acylating agent was changed to acyl chloride. The latter adjustment leads, in combination with our best catalyst, to the reversal of the ratio between the products to 1:11.

Copper-Catalyzed Chemo-, Regio-, and Stereoselective Multicomponent 1,2,3-Trifunctionalization of Internal Alkynes

Herein, we report the first diaryliodonium salts promoted multicomponent 1,2,3-trifunctionalization of alkynes, where both the acetylenic bond and the adjacent nonactivated propargylic C(sp³)-H bond were functionalized synergistically to generate α-arylated enones with high chemo-, regio-, and stereoselectivity. A broad spectrum of diaryliodonium salts and internal alkynes could be utilized in this protocol, and a diverse collection of highly substituted and stereochemically defined linear and cyclic complex structures could be elaborated from the enone products.

Atroposelective Desymmetrization of Resorcinol-Bearing Quinazolinones via Cu-Catalyzed C-O Bond Formation

Enantioselective Cu-catalyzed C-O cross coupling reactions yielding atropisomeric resorcinol-bearing quinazolinones have been developed. Utilizing a new guanidinylated dimeric peptidic ligand, a set of products were generated in good yields with excellent stereocontrol. The transformation was readily scalable, and a range of product derivatizations were performed.

Diaryliodonium(III) Salts in One-Pot Double Functionalization of C–IIII and ortho C–H Bonds

Since the 1950s, diaryliodonium(III) salts have been demonstrated to participate in various arylation reactions, forming aryl–heteroatom and aryl–carbon bonds. Incorporating the arylation step into sequential transformations would provide access to...

Studies of Catalyst-Controlled Regioselective Acetalization and Its Application to Single-Pot Synthesis of Differentially Protected Saccharides

This article describes studies on the regioselective acetal protection of monosaccharide-based diols using chiral phosphoric acids (CPAs) and their immobilized polymeric variants, (R)-Ad-TRIP-PS and (S)-SPINOL-PS, as the catalysts. These catalyst-controlled regioselective acetalizations were found to proceed with high regioselectivities (up to >25:1 rr) on various d-glucose-, d-galactose-, d-mannose-, and l-fucose-derived 1,2-diols and could be carried out in a regiodivergent fashion depending on the choice of chiral catalyst. The polymeric catalysts were conveniently recycled and reused multiple times for gram-scale functionalizations with catalytic loadings as low as 0.1 mol %, and their performance was often found to be superior to the performance of their monomeric variants. These regioselective CPA-catalyzed acetalizations were successfully combined with common hydroxyl group functionalizations as single-pot telescoped procedures to produce 32 regioisomerically pure differentially protected mono- and disaccharide derivatives. To further demonstrate the utility of the polymeric catalysts, the same batch of (R)-Ad-TRIP-PS catalyst was recycled and reused to accomplish single-pot gram-scale syntheses of 6 differentially protected d-glucose derivatives. The subsequent exploration of the reaction mechanism using NMR studies of deuterated and nondeuterated substrates revealed that low-temperature acetalizations happen via a syn-addition mechanism and that the reaction regioselectivity exhibits strong dependence on the temperature. The computational studies indicate a complex temperature-dependent interplay of two reaction mechanisms, one involving an anomeric phosphate intermediate and another via concerted asynchronous formation of an acetal, that results in syn-addition products. The computational models also explain the steric factors responsible for the observed C2 selectivities and are consistent with experimentally observed selectivity trends.

Nonenzymatic Stereoselective S-Glycosylation of Polypeptides and Proteins

Here we report a nonenzymatic glycosylation reaction that builds axial S-glycosidic bonds under biorelevant conditions. This strategy is enabled by the design and use of allyl glycosyl sulfones as precursors to glycosyl radicals and exploits the exceptional functional group tolerance of radical processes. Our method introduces a variety of unprotected glycosyl units to the cysteine residues of peptides in a highly selective fashion. Through developing the second-generation protocol, we applied our method in the direct glycosylation of complex polypeptides and proteins. Computational studies were performed to elucidate the reaction mechanism.

Recent advances in the direct O-arylation of carbohydrates

Methods for the O-arylation of hydroxyl and hemiacetal groups in carbohydrates via C(sp2)-O bond formation are discussed. Such methods provide an alternative disconnection to the traditional approach of nucleophilic substitution between a sugar-derived electrophile and a phenol or phenoxide nucleophile. They have led to new opportunities for stereoselectivity, site-selectivity and chemoselectivity in the preparation of O-aryl glycosides and carbohydrate-derived aryl ethers, compounds that are useful for a broad range of applications in medicinal chemistry, glycobiology and organic synthesis.

A photoredox/nickel dual-catalytic strategy for benzylic C–H alkoxylation

Reported herein is a photoredox/nickel dual-catalyzed benzylic C–H alkoxylation and the protocol features broad substrate scope and excellent functional group compatibility.

Site-switchable mono-O-allylation of polyols

Site-selective modification of complex molecules allows for rapid accesses to their analogues and derivatives, and, therefore, offers highly valuable opportunities to probe their functions. However, to selectively manipulate one out of many repeatedly occurring functional groups within a substrate represents a grand challenge in chemistry. Yet more demanding is to develop methods in which alterations to the reaction conditions lead to switching of the specific site of reaction. We report herein the development of a Pd/Lewis acid co-catalytic system that achieves not only site-selective, but site-switchable mono-O-allylation of polyols with readily available reagents and catalysts. Through exchanging the Lewis acid additives that recognize specific hydroxyls in a polyol substrate, our system managed to install a versatile allyl group to the target in a site-switchable manner. Our design demonstrates remarkable scope, and is amenable to the direct derivatization of various complex, bioactive natural products.

Selective manipulation of one functional group, out of many repeatedly occurring in a substrate, represents a grand challenge in chemistry. Here, the authors report a Pd/Lewis acid cocatalytic system that achieves not only site-selective, but also site-switchable mono-O-allylation of polyols.

Generation of Glycosyl Radicals from Glycosyl Sulfoxides and Its Use in the Synthesis of C-linked Glycoconjugates

We here report glycosyl sulfoxides appended with an aryl iodide moiety as readily available, air and moisture stable precursors to glycosyl radicals. These glycosyl sulfoxides could be converted to glycosyl radicals by way of a rapid and efficient intramolecular radical substitution event. The use of this type of precursors enabled the synthesis of various complex C-linked glycoconjugates under mild conditions. This reaction could be performed in aqueous media and is amenable to the synthesis of glycopeptidomimetics and carbohydrate-DNA conjugates.

Visible-Light-Induced Pd-Catalyzed Radical Strategy for Constructing C-Vinyl Glycosides

A novel visible-light-induced palladium-catalyzed Heck reaction for bromine sugars and aryl olefins with high regio- and stereochemistry selectivity for the preparation of C-glycosyl styrene is described. This reaction takes place in one step at room temperature by using a simple and readily available starting material. This protocol can be scaled up to a wide range of glycosyl bromide donors and aryl olefin substrates. Mechanistic studies indicate that a radical addition pathway is involved.

Stereoselective Protection-Free Modification of 3-Keto-saccharides

Unprotected 3-keto-saccharides have become readily accessible via site-selective oxidation, but their protection-free functionalization is relatively unexplored. Here we show that protecting groups are obsolete in a variety of stereoselective modifications of our model substrate methyl α-glucopyranoside. This allows the preparation of rare sugars and the installation of click handles and reactive groups. To showcase the applicability of the methodology, maltoheptaose has been converted into a chemical probe, and the rare sugar evalose has been synthesized.

Site-selective aromatic C-H λ3-iodanation with a cyclic iodine(iii) electrophile in solution and solid phases

An efficient and site-selective aromatic C-H λ³-iodanation reaction is achieved using benziodoxole triflate (BXT) as an electrophile under room temperature conditions. The reaction tolerates a variety of electron-rich arenes and heteroarenes to afford the corresponding arylbenziodoxoles in moderate to good yields. The reaction can also be performed mechanochemically by grinding a mixture of solid arenes and BXT under solvent-free conditions. The arylbenziodoxoles can be used for various C-C and C-heteroatom bond formations, and are also amenable to further modification by electrophilic halogenation. DFT calculations suggested that the present reaction proceeds via a concerted λ³-iodanation-deprotonation transition state, where the triflate anion acts as an internal base.

Synthesis of aryl ethers of carbohydrates via reaction with arynes: selective O-arylation of trans-vicinal dihydroxyl groups in carbohydrates

A new method for the O-arylation of carbohydrates under metal-free conditions using arynes as an aryl source has been developed. This approach works well with mono, di and trihydroxy compounds. Preferential O-arylation takes place at primary over secondary and equatorial over axial. Site-selective O-arylation was achieved with the substrate having trans vicinal diequatorial hydroxyls.

Palladium(ii)-catalyzed stereoselective synthesis of C-glycosides from glycals with diaryliodonium salts

An efficient palladium(ii) mediated C-glycosylation of glycals with diaryliodonium salts is described, providing a new strategy for the synthesis of 2,3-dideoxy C-aryl glycosides with excellent stereoselectivity. The C-glycosylation of a diverse range of glycals, including d-glucal, d-galactal, d-allal, l-rhamnal, l-fucal, l-arabinal, d-maltal, and d-lactal, occurred effectively and the corresponding C-glycosides were obtained in moderate to good yields. This protocol is commended as a significant addition to the field of carbohydrate chemistry due to the rich functional group compatibility, broad range of substrate scope and exceptional α-stereoselectivity.

Regioselective Sulfonylation/Acylation of Carbohydrates Catalyzed by FeCl3 Combined with Benzoyltrifluoroacetone and Its Mechanism Study

A catalytic amount of FeCl₃ combined with benzoyl trifluoroacetone (Hbtfa) (FeCl₃/Hbtfa = 1/2) was used to catalyze sulfonylation/acylation of diols and polyols using diisopropylethylamine (DIPEA) or potassium carbonate (K₂CO₃) as a base. The catalytic system exhibited high catalytic activity, leading to excellent isolated yields of sulfonylation/acylation products with high regioselectivities. Mechanism studies indicated that FeCl₃ initially formed [Fe(btfa)₃] (btfa = benzoyl trifluoroacetonate) with twice the amount of Hbtfa under basic conditions in the solvent acetonitrile at room temperature. Then, Fe(btfa)₃ and two hydroxyl groups of the substrates formed a five- or six-membered ring intermediate in the presence of the base. The subsequent reaction between the cyclic intermediate and a sulfonylation reagent led to the selective sulfonylation of the substrate. All key intermediates were captured in the high-resolution mass spectrometry assay, therefore demonstrating this mechanism for the first time.

Parallel Kinetic Resolution of Unsymmetrical Acyclic Aliphatic syn-1,3-Diols

Disclosed is a mild, reliable, and enantioselective catalytic parallel kinetic resolution of unsymmetrical acyclic aliphatic syn-1,3-diol derived acetals mediated by chiral phosphoric acid. This method provides stereoselective access to a variety of syn-1,3-diols as valuable building blocks with high enantioselectivity. Moreover, this mild system allows for site-selective protection of optically pure syn-1,3-diols in excellent regioselectivity.

Oxalic Diamides and tert-Butoxide: Two Types of Ligands Enabling Practical Access to Alkyl Aryl Ethers via Cu-Catalyzed Coupling Reaction

A robust and practical protocol for preparing alkyl aryl ethers has been developed, which relies on using two types of ligands to promote Cu-catalyzed alkoxylation of (hetero)aryl halides. The reaction scope is very general for a variety of coupling partners, particularly for challenging secondary alcohols and (hetero)aryl chlorides. In case of coupling with aryl chlorides and bromides, two oxalic diamides serve as the powerful ligands. The tert-butoxide is first demonstrated as a ligand for Cu-catalyzed coupling reaction, leading to alkoxylation of aryl iodides complete at room temperature. Additionally, a number of carbohydrate derivatives are applicable for this coupling reaction, affording the corresponding carbohydrate-aryl ethers in 29-98% yields.