2-Nitroglycals: Versatile Building Blocks for the Synthesis of 2-Aminoglycosides

Controllable 1,3-Bis-Functionalization of 2-Nitroglycals with High Regioselectivity and Stereoselectivity Enabled by a H-Bond Catalyst

The selective modification of carbohydrates is significant for producing their unnatural analogues for drug discovery. C1-functionalization (glycosylation) and C1,C2-difunctionalization of carbohydrates have been well developed. In contrast, C3-functionalization or C1,C3-difunctionalization of carbohydrates remains rare. Herein, we report such processes that efficiently and stereoselectively modify carbohydrates. Specifically, we found that trifluoroethanol (TFE) could promote 1,3-bis-indolylation/pyrrolylation of 2-nitroglycals generated carbohydrate derivatives in up to 93% yield at room temperature; slightly reducing the temperature could install two different indoles at the C1- and C3-positions. Switching TFE to a bifunctional amino thiourea catalyst leads to the generation of C3 monosubstituted carbohydrates, which could also be used to construct 1,3-di-C-functionalized carbohydrates. This approach produced a range of challenging sugar derivatives (over 80 examples) with controllable and high stereoselectivity (single isomer for over 90% of the examples). The potential applications of the reaction were demonstrated by a set of transformations including the synthesis of bridged large-ring molecules and gram scale reactions. Biological activities evaluation demonstrated that three compounds exhibit a potent inhibitory effect on human cancer cells T24, HCT116, AGS, and MKN-45 with IC50 ranged from 0.695 to 3.548 μM.

Regio- and Stereoselective Organocatalyzed Relay Glycosylations To Synthesize 2-Amino-2-deoxy-1,3-dithioglycosides

Herein, we describe a novel methodology for the regio- and stereoselective convergent synthesis of 2-amino-2-deoxy-dithioglycosides via one-pot relay glycosylation of 3-O-acetyl-2-nitroglucal donors. This unique organo-catalysis relay glycosylation features excellent site- and stereoselectivity, good to excellent yields, mild reaction conditions, and broad substrate scope. 2-Amino-2-deoxy-glucosides/mannosides bearing 1,3-dithio-linkages were efficiently obtained from 3-O-acetyl-2-nitroglucal donors in both stepwise and one-pot glycosylation protocols. The dithiolated O-antigen of E. coli serogroup 64 was successfully synthesized using this newly developed method.

Stereoselective synthesis of substituted 1,2-annulated sugars by domino double-Michael addition reaction

A simple, highly stereoselective one-pot methodology for the synthesis of novel 1,2-annulated sugars comprising of oxa-oxa and oxa-carbasugar fused skeletons from 2-nitrogalactal and a sugar-derived enone, obtained from 2-formylgalactal, promoted by KO^tBu and CH₃ONa respectively is described. Both processes rely on a domino double-Michael addition reaction resulting in the formation of three stereocenters in a single pot, including a quaternary center.

Methods for 2-Deoxyglycoside Synthesis

Deoxy-sugars often play a critical role in modulating the potency of many bioactive natural products. Accordingly, there has been sustained interest in methods for their synthesis over the past several decades. The focus of much of this work has been on developing new glycosylation reactions that permit the mild and selective construction of deoxyglycosides. This Review covers classical approaches to deoxyglycoside synthesis, as well as more recently developed chemistry that aims to control the selectivity of the reaction through rational design of the promoter. Where relevant, the application of this chemistry to natural product synthesis will also be described.

N-Heterocyclic Carbene Catalyzed Stereoselective Glycosylation of 2-Nitrogalactals

An efficient N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed glycosylation of 2-nitrogalactals with alcohols and phenol has been developed for the first time. A wide variety of 1,2-cis-2-nitroglycosides can be obtained with good to excellent yields and high to excellent α-selectivities.

Stereoselective Glycosylation of 2-Nitrogalactals Catalyzed by a Bifunctional Organocatalyst

The use of a bifunctional cinchona/thiourea organocatalyst for the direct and α-stereoselective glycosylation of 2-nitrogalactals is demonstrated for the first time. The conditions are mild, practical, and applicable to a wide range of glycoside acceptors with products being isolated in good to excellent yields. The method is exemplified in the synthesis of mucin type Core 6 and 7 glycopeptides.

Stereoselective Michael addition of O-nucleophiles to carbohydrate-based nitro-olefin

Michael addition reactions of O-nucleophiles to C(3) exocyclic nitromethylene derivative of diacetone glucose are reported. The reactions with primary alcohols proceed at ambient temperature in the presence of different bases with good yields and give products with excellent diastereoselectivity. The addition of the nucleophile occurs from the β-face of the carbohydrate as shown by single crystal X-ray analysis. The reactions with secondary alcohols give low yields of products while phenolic compounds do not react. Under certain conditions, isomerization of starting material is observed.

2-Nitro-thioglycosides: α- and β-selective generation and their potential as β-selective glycosyl donors

Michael-type addition of thiolates to 2-nitro-D-glucal or to 2-nitro-D-galactal derivatives readily provides 2-deoxy-2-nitro-1-thioglycosides. Kinetic and thermodynamic reaction control permitted formation of either the α- or preferentially the β-anomers, respectively. Addition of achiral and chiral thiourea derivatives to the reaction mixture increased the reaction rate; the outcome is substrate-controlled. The 2-deoxy-2-nitro-1-thioglycosides are excellent glycosyl donors under arylsulfenyl chloride/silver triflate (ArSCl/AgOTf) activation, and they provide, anchimerically assisted by the nitro group, mostly β-glycosides.

Stereoselective synthesis of fluorinated aminoglycosyl phosphonates

We report the highly stereoselective addition of lithiated difluorophosphonates to nitroglycals, providing synthetic access to biologically relevant fluorinated aminoglycosyl phosphonates.