Stereoselective Glycosylation of Glucosamine: The Role of the N ‐Protecting Group

Alternative processes to produce chitin, chitosan, and their oligomers

Sustainable recovery of chitin and its derivatives from shellfish waste will be achieved when the industrial production of these polymers is achieved with a high control of their molecular structure, low costs, and acceptable levels of pollution. Therefore, the conventional chemical method for obtaining these biopolymers needs to be replaced or optimized. The goal of the present review is to ascertain what alternative methods are viable for the industrial-scale production of chitin, chitosan, and their oligomers. Therefore, a detailed review of recent literature was undertaken, focusing on the advantages and disadvantages of each method. The analysis of the existing data allows suggesting that combining conventional, biological, and alternative methods is the most efficient strategy to achieve sustainable production, preventing negative impacts and allowing for the recovery of high added-value compounds from shellfish waste. In conclusion, a new process for obtaining chitinous materials is suggested, with the potential of reducing the consumption of reagents, energy, and water by at least 1/10, 1/4, and 1/3 part with respect to the conventional process, respectively.

Thiourea-Cu(OTf)2/NIS-synergistically promoted stereoselective glycoside formation with 2-azidoselenoglycosides or thioglycosides as donors

A novel promoter system for glycosylation is described. A catalytic amount of thiourea and Cu(OTf)2 together with a slight excess of N-iodosuccinimide synergistically promotes glycosylation at room temperature. The combination of reagents applies to some 2-azidoselenoglycoside and thioglycoside donors. A wide range of alcoholic acceptors underwent smooth conversion to O-(2-azido)glycosides with good stereoselectivities. In addition, the value of this method has been highlighted by its convenient operation and outstanding functional group compatibility.

Urea-catalyzed N-Glycosylation of Amides/Azacycles with Glycosyl Halides

The efficient synthesis of N-glycosides via direct N-glycosylation of amides/azacycles has been reported. The glycosylation of amides/azacycles with glycosyl halides in the presence of a catalytic amount of urea proceeded smoothly to provide the corresponding N-glycosylated amides or nucleosides in good to excellent yields with 1,2-trans-stereoselectivity. Moreover, by the addition of terpyridine, the 1,2-cis-stereoselectivity was achieved.

β-Glycosylations with 2-Deoxy-2-(2,4-dinitrobenzenesulfonyl)-amino-glucosyl/galactosyl Selenoglycosides: Assembly of Partially N-Acetylated β-(1 → 6)-Oligoglucosaminosides

An efficient protocol has been established for β-glycosylations with 2-deoxy-2-(2,4-dinitrobenzenesulfonyl)amino (2dDNsNH)-glucopyranosyl/galactopyranosyl selenoglycosides using PhSeCl/AgOTf as an activating system. The reaction features highly β-selective glycosylation with a wide range of alcohol acceptors that are either sterically hindered or poorly nucleophilic. Thioglycoside- and selenoglycoside-based alcohols prove to be viable nucleophiles, opening up new opportunities for one-pot construction of oligosaccharides. The power of this approach is highlighted by the efficient assembly of tri-, hexa-, and nonasaccharides composed of β-(1 → 6)-glucosaminosyl residues based on one-pot preparation of a triglucosaminosyl thioglycoside with DNs, phthaloyl, and 2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonyl as the protecting groups of amino groups. These glycans are potential antigens for developing glycoconjugate vaccines against microbial infections.

The α-Galactosyl Carbohydrate Epitope in Pathogenic Protozoa

The α-gal epitope, which refers to the carbohydrate α-d-Galp-(1 → 3)-β-d-Galp-(1 → 4)-d-GlcNAc-R, was first described in the glycoconjugates of mammals other than humans. Evolution caused a mutation that resulted in the inactivation of the α-1,3-galactosyltransferase gene. For that reason, humans produce antibodies against α-d-Galp containing glycoproteins and glycolipids of other species. We summarize here the glycoconjugates with α-d-Galp structures in Trypanosoma, Leishmania, and Plasmodium pathogenic protozoa. These were identified in infective stages of Trypanosoma cruzi and in Plasmodium sporozoites. In Leishmania, α-d-Galp is linked differently in the glycans of glycoinositolphospholipids (GIPLs). Chemically synthesized neoglycoconjugates have been proposed as diagnostic tools and as antigens for vaccines. Several syntheses reported for the α-gal trisaccharide, also called the Galili epitope, and the glycans of GIPLs found in Leishmania, the preparation of neoglycoconjugates, and the studies in which they were involved are also included in this Review.

Protecting group principles suited to late stage functionalization and global deprotection in oligosaccharide synthesis

Chemical synthesis is a powerful tool to access homogeneous complex glycans, which relies on protecting group (PG) chemistry. However, the overall efficiency of chemical glycan assembly is still low when compared to oligonucleotide or oligopeptide synthesis. There have been many contributions giving rise to collective improvement in carbohydrate synthesis that includes PG manipulation and stereoselective glycoside formation and some of this chemistry has been transferred to the solid phase or adapted for programmable one pot synthesis approaches. However, after all glycoside bond formation reactions are completed, the global deprotection (GD) required to give the desired target OS can be challenging. Difficulties observed in the removal of permanent PGs to release the desired glycans can be due to the number and diversity of PGs present in the protected OSs, nature and structural complexity of glycans, etc. Here, we have reviewed the difficulties associated with the removal of PGs from densely protected OSs to obtain their free glycans. In particularly, this review focuses on the challenges associated with hydrogenolysis of benzyl groups, saponification of esters and functional group interconversion such as oxidation/reduction that are commonly performed in GD stage. More generally, problems observed in the removal of permanent PGs is reviewed herein, including benzyl, acyl (levulinoyl, acetyl), N-trichloroacetyl, N-2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonyl, N-phthaloyl etc. from a number of fully protected OSs to release the free sugar, that have been previously reported in the literature.

Design, Synthesis, and Antifungal Activities of Hymexazol Glycosides Based on a Biomimetic Strategy

Hymexazol (HYM) is irreplaceable for treating soil-borne diseases due to its high efficiency and low cost, as a broad-spectrum fungicide. However, when HYM is absorbed by plants, it is rapidly converted into two glycoside metabolites, and the antifungal activities of these glycosides are inferior to that of HYM. Therefore, in this study, to maintain strong antifungal activity in vitro and in vivo, HYM was glycosylated with amino sugars that have diverse biological activities to simulate plant glycosylation. The antifungal experiment proved that glycoside 15 has the highest antifungal activity, and N-acetyl glucosamine and HYM had obvious synergistic effects. According to the structure-activity relationship studies, glycoside 15 had greater numbers of active electron-rich regions and front-line orbital electrons due to the introduction of N-acetyl glucosamine. Moreover, glycoside 15 can significantly promote plant growth and induce an increase in plant defense enzyme activity. Additionally, compared to HYM, the results of electron microscopy and proteomics revealed that glycoside 15 has a unique antifungal mechanism. The promising antifungal activity and interactions with plants mean that glycoside 15 is a potential green fungicide candidate. Furthermore, this research conducted an interesting exploration of the agricultural applications of amino sugars.

Recent Advances in the Synthesis and Biological Applications of Peptidoglycan Fragments

The biosynthesis, breakdown, and modification of peptidoglycan (PG) play vital roles in both bacterial viability and in the response of human physiology to bacterial infection. Studies on PG biochemistry are hampered by the fact that PG is an inhomogeneous insoluble macromolecule. Chemical synthesis is therefore an important means to obtain PG fragments that may serve as enzyme substrates and elicitors of the human immune response. This review outlines the recent advances in the synthesis and biochemical studies of PG fragments, PG biosynthetic intermediates (such as Park's nucleotides and PG lipids), and PG breakdown products (such as muramyl dipeptides and anhydro-muramic acid-containing fragments). A rich variety of synthetic approaches has been applied to preparing such compounds since carbohydrate, peptide, and phospholipid chemical methodologies must all be applied.

Deoxyfluorination tunes the aggregation of cellulose and chitin oligosaccharides and highlights the role of specific hydroxyl groups in the crystallization process

Using synthetic oligosaccharides, we examined how deoxyfluorination (site and pattern) impact the solubility and aggregation of cellulose and chitin oligomers.

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.

Highly Active Cellulose-Supported Poly(hydroxamic acid)-Cu(II) Complex for Ullmann Etherification

Highly active natural pandanus-extracted cellulose-supported poly(hydroxamic acid)-Cu(II) complex 4 was synthesized. The surface of pandanus cellulose was modified through graft copolymerization using purified methyl acrylate as a monomer. Then, copolymer methyl acrylate was converted into a bidentate chelating ligand poly(hydroxamic acid) via a Loosen rearrangement in the presence of an aqueous solution of hydroxylamine. Finally, copper species were incorporated into poly(hydroxamic acid) via the adsorption process. Cu(II) complex 4 was fully characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses. The cellulose-supported Cu(II) complex 4 was successfully applied (0.005 mol %) to the Ullmann etherification of aryl, benzyl halides, and phenacyl bromide with a number of aromatic phenols to provide the corresponding ethers with excellent yield [benzyl halide (70-99%); aryl halide (20-90%)]. Cu(II) complex 4 showed high stability and was easily recovered from the reaction mixture. It could be reused up to seven times without loss of its original catalytic activity. Therefore, Cu(II) complex 4 can be commercially utilized for the preparation of various ethers, and this synthetic technique could be a part in the synthesis of natural products and medicinal compounds.

Nitrogen-Centered Radical-Mediated Cascade Amidoglycosylation of Glycals

A nitrogen-centered radical-mediated strategy for preparing 1,2-trans-2-amino-2-deoxyglycosides in one step was established. The cascade amidoglycosylation was initiated by a benzenesulfonimide radical generated from NFSI under the catalytic reduction of TEMPO. The benzenesulfonimide radical was electrophilically added to the glycals, and then the resulting glycosidic radical was converted to oxocarbenium upon oxidation by TEMPO⁺, which enabled the following anomeric specific glycosylation.

Systematic Structural Characterization of Chitooligosaccharides Enabled by Automated Glycan Assembly

Chitin, a polymer composed of β(1-4)-linked N-acetyl-glucosamine monomers, and its partially deacetylated analogue chitosan, are abundant biopolymers with outstanding mechanical as well as elastic properties. Their degradation products, chitooligosaccharides (COS), can trigger the innate immune response in humans and plants. Both material and biological properties are dependent on polymer length, acetylation, as well as the pH. Without well-defined samples, a complete molecular description of these factors is still missing. Automated glycan assembly (AGA) enabled rapid access to synthetic well-defined COS. Chitin-cellulose hybrid oligomers were prepared as important tools for a systematic structural analysis. Intramolecular interactions, identified by molecular dynamics simulations and NMR analysis, underscore the importance of the chitosan amino group for the stabilization of specific geometries.

Threshold of Thioglycoside Reactivity Difference Is Critical for Efficient Synthesis of Type I Oligosaccharides by Chemoselective Glycosylation

Synthesis of type I LacNAc (Galβ1 → 3GlcNAc) oligosaccharides usually suffers from low yields. We herein report the efficient synthesis of type I LacNAc oligosaccharides by chemoselective glycosylation. With 16 relative reactivity values (RRVs) measured thiotoluenyl-linked disaccharide donors and acceptors, chemoselective glycosylations were investigated to obtain optimal conditions. In these reactions, the RRV difference between the donors and acceptors had to be more than 6311 to obtain type I LacNAc tetrasaccharides in 72-86% yields, with minimal occurrence of aglycon transfer. The threshold of RRV difference was further applied to plan the synthesis of longer glycans. Because it is challenging to measure the RRVs of tetrasaccharides, anomeric proton chemical shifts were utilized to predict the corresponding RRVs, which consequently explained the outcome of glycosylations for the synthesis of type I LacNAc hexasaccharides. The result supported the idea that elongation of glycan chains has to proceed from the reducing to the nonreducing end for a better yield.

Assembly of Peptidoglycan Fragments-A Synthetic Challenge

Peptidoglycan (PGN) is a major constituent of most bacterial cell walls that is recognized as a primary target of the innate immune system. The availability of pure PGN molecules has become key to different biological studies. This review aims to (1) provide an overview of PGN biosynthesis, focusing on the main biosynthetic intermediates; (2) focus on the challenges for chemical synthesis posed by the unique and complex structure of PGN; and (3) cover the synthetic routes of PGN fragments developed to date. The key difficulties in the synthesis of PGN molecules mainly involve stereoselective glycosylation involving NAG derivatives. The complex synthesis of the carbohydrate backbone commonly involves multistep sequences of chemical reactions to install the lactyl moiety at the O-3 position of NAG derivatives and to control enantioselective glycosylation. Recent advances are presented and synthetic routes are described according to the main strategy used: (i) based on the availability of starting materials such as glucosamine derivatives; (ii) based on a particular orthogonal synthesis; and (iii) based on the use of other natural biopolymers as raw materials.

Chemical Synthesis and Immunological Evaluation of a Pentasaccharide Bearing Multiple Rare Sugars as a Potential Anti-pertussis Vaccine

With the infection rate of Bordetella pertussis at a 60-year high, there is an urgent need for new anti-pertussis vaccines. The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of B. pertussis is an attractive antigen for vaccine development. With the presence of multiple rare sugars and unusual glycosyl linkages, the B. pertussis LPS is a highly challenging synthetic target. In this work, aided by molecular dynamics simulation and modeling, a pertussis-LPS-like pentasaccharide was chemically synthesized for the first time. The pentasaccharide was conjugated with a powerful carrier, bacteriophage Qβ, as a vaccine candidate. Immunization of mice with the conjugate induced robust anti-glycan IgG responses with IgG titers reaching several million enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) units. The antibodies generated were long lasting and boostable and could recognize multiple clinical strains of B. pertussis, highlighting the potential of Qβ-glycan as a new anti-pertussis vaccine.

2,4-Dinitrobenzenesulfonamide-Directed SN2-Type Displacement Reaction Enables Synthesis of β-d-Glycosaminosides

An efficient protocol to construct β-d-gluco-/galactosaminosyl linkages was established using nonparticipating and strong electron-withdrawing C-2-2,4-dinitrobenzenesulfonamide (DNsNH)-directed S_N2-like glycosylation of glycosyl ortho-hexynylbenzoates. The reaction is applicable to a wide range of O-, N-, and C-nucleophiles and features convenient conversion of DNsNH into AcNH in high yield under mild conditions. Oligomerization-ready trisaccharide, composed of β-d-(1→3)-glucosamino residues, has been achieved, setting a solid foundation for the synthesis of oligosaccharides associated with Neisseria meningitidis capsular polysaccharide.

Synthesis of the β-linked GalNAc-Kdo disaccharide antigen of the capsular polysaccharide of Kingella kingae KK01

The first construction of the challenging β-(1 → 5)-linked GalNAc-Kdo skeleton is described for the synthesis of the disaccharide antigen of the capsular polysaccharide of Kingella kingae KK01. TfOH-catalyzed glycosylation of N-Troc-protected d-galactosaminyl N-phenyl trifluoroacetimidate with a sterically hindered 5-hydroxyl group of the β-Kdo building block in toluene proceeded smoothly to provide the desired disaccharide in excellent yield with satisfactory β-selectivity. An optimal sequence for the deprotection of the disaccharide skeleton was found to access the disaccharide antigen of Kingella kingae KK01 for further immunological studies.

Simple and Efficient Preparation of O- and S-GlcNAcylated Amino Acids through InBr3-Catalyzed Synthesis of β- N-Acetylglycosides from Commercially Available Reagents

The facile synthesis of serine, threonine, and cysteine β-glycosides using commercially available peracetylated β- N-acetylglucosamine (β-Ac₄GlcNAc) and catalytic amounts of indium bromide (InBr₃) is described. This method involves only inexpensive reagents that require no further modification or special handling. The reagents are simply mixed, dissolved, and refluxed to afford the GlcNAcylated amino acids in great yields (70-80%). This operationally simple procedure should facilitate the study of O-GlcNAcylation without necessitating expertise in synthetic carbohydrate chemistry.

An innovative and efficient route to the synthesis of metal-based glycoconjugates: proof-of-concept and potential applications

With a view to developing more efficient strategies to the functionalization of metallodrugs with carbohydrates, we here report on an innovative and efficient synthetic route to generate gold(iii) glycoconjugates in high yields and purity. The method is based on the initial synthesis of the zinc(ii)-dithiocarbamato intermediate [Zn^II(SSC-Inp-GlcN)₂] (Inp = isonipecotic moiety; GlcN = amino-glucose) followed by the transfer of the glucoseisonipecoticdithiocarbamato ligand to the gold(iii) center via transmetallation reaction between the zinc(ii) intermediate and K[Au^IIIBr₄] in 1 : 2 stoichiometric ratio, yielding the corresponding glucose-functionalized gold(iii)-dithiocarbamato derivative [Au^IIIBr₂(SSC-Inp-GlcN)]. No protection/deprotection of the amino-glucose scaffold and no chromatographic purification were needed. The synthetic protocol was optimized for glucose precursors bearing the amino function at either the C² or the C⁶ position, and works in the case of both α and β anomers. The application of the synthetic strategy was also successfully extended to other metal ions of biomedical interest, such as gold(i) and platinum(ii), to obtain [Au^I(SSC-Inp-GlcN)(PPh₃)] and [Pt^II(SSC-Inp-GlcN)₂], respectively. All compounds were fully characterized by elemental analysis, mid- and far-IR, mono- and multidimensional NMR spectroscopy, and, where possible, X-ray crystallography. Results and potential applications are here discussed.

Efficient Ullmann C–X coupling reaction catalyzed by a recoverable functionalized-chitosan supported copper complex

Three different types of functionalized-CS were prepared and anchored with copper salts for use as the catalyst for the Ullmann C–X coupling reaction.

A flexible 1,2-cis α-glycosylation strategy based on in situ adduct transformation

Towards a universal 1,2-cis α-glycosylation strategy using the joined forces of formamide and iodide nucleophile additives.

Why Is Direct Glycosylation with N-Acetylglucosamine Donors Such a Poor Reaction and What Can Be Done about It?

The monosaccharide N-acetyl-d-glucosamine (GlcNAc) is an abundant building block in naturally occurring oligosaccharides, but its incorporation by chemical glycosylation is challenging since direct reactions are low yielding. This issue, generally agreed upon to be caused by an intermediate 1,2-oxazoline, is often bypassed by introducing extra synthetic steps to avoid the presence of the NHAc functional group during glycosylation. The present paper describes new fundamental mechanistic insights into the inherent challenges of performing direct glycosylation with GlcNAc. These results show that controlling the balance of oxazoline formation and glycosylation is key to achieving acceptable chemical yields. By applying this line of reasoning to direct glycosylation with a traditional thioglycoside donor of GlcNAc, which otherwise affords poor glycosylation yields, one may obtain useful glycosylation results.

Recent Advances Toward Robust N-Protecting Groups for Glucosamine as Required for Glycosylation Strategies

2-Amino-2-deoxy-d-glucose (d-glucosamine) is among the most abundant monosaccharides found in natural products. This constituent, recognized for its ubiquity, is presented in most instances as its N-acetyl derivative 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-d-glucopyranose (N-acetylglucosamine, GlcNAc, NAG). It occurs as the β-linked pyranosyl group in polysaccharides and oligosaccharides, and sometimes as the monosaccharide itself, either in its native state or as a glycoconjugate. The compound's acylation profile and other aspects of its structure are important elements in determining the variety of reactivities and functions of the molecule as a whole. Methods elaborated to investigate these challenges have been intensively reviewed; however, a relatively more comprehensive reviewing of this subject is introduced here to cover some aspects that have not been sufficiently covered. This might enable those who are beginners in this field to be aware of the subject in a more comprehensive context. 2-Amino-2-deoxy-d-glucosylation strategies demand robust amino-protecting groups that survive under a variety of chemical conditions, yet provide groups that can be deprotected under relatively mild conditions. At the end of this review, a table that includes all the N-protecting groups that have been used for glucosamine is provided to introduce them at a glance to aid in constructing building blocks that will act as useful 2-amino-2-deoxy-d-glucosyl donors.

Benzylidene Acetal Protecting Group as Carboxylic Acid Surrogate: Synthesis of Functionalized Uronic Acids and Sugar Amino Acids

Direct oxidation of the 4,6-O-benzylidene acetal protecting group to C-6 carboxylic acid has been developed that provides an easy access to a wide range of biologically important and synthetically challenging uronic acid and sugar amino acid derivatives in good yields. The RuCl3 -NaIO4 -mediated oxidative cleavage method eliminates protection and deprotection steps and the reaction takes place under mild conditions. The dual role of the benzylidene acetal, as a protecting group and source of carboxylic acid, was exploited in the efficient synthesis of six-carbon sialic acid analogues and disaccharides bearing uronic acids, including glycosaminoglycan analogues.

Modulating glycosylation with exogenous nucleophiles: an overview

The major challenge in carbohydrate synthesis is stereochemical control of glycosidic bond formation. Different glycosylation methods have been developed that are based on the modulation effect of external nucleophiles. This review highlights the development, synthetic application, challenges and outlook of the modulated glycosylation methods.

From chitin to bioactive chitooligosaccharides and conjugates: access to lipochitooligosaccharides and the TMG-chitotriomycin

The direct and chemoselective N-transacylation of peracetylated chitooligosaccharides (COSs), readily obtained from chitin, to give per-N-trifluoroacetyl derivatives offers an attractive route to size-defined COSs and derived glycoconjugates. It involves the use of various acceptor building blocks and trifluoromethyl oxazoline dimer donors prepared with efficiency and highly reactive in 1,2-trans glycosylation reactions. This method was applied to the preparation of the important symbiotic glycolipids which are highly active on plants and to the TMG-chitotriomycin, a potent and specific inhibitor of insect, fungal, and bacterial N-acetylglucosaminidases.