Synthetic Studies on the Incorporation of N-Acetylallosamine in Hyaluronic Acid-Inspired Thiodisaccharides

Two approaches for the synthesis of the thiodisaccharide β-S-GlcA(1→3)β-S-AllNAc are described here. The target disaccharide was a C-3 epimer and thio-analogue of the hyaluronic acid repetitive unit, tuned with a thiopropargyl anomeric group for further click conjugation. Thus, we analysed and tested two convenient sequences, combining the two key steps required to introduce the thioglycosidic bonds and consequently reach the target molecule: the SN2 substitution of a good leaving group (triflate) present at C-3 of a GlcNAc derivative and the introduction of the anomeric thiopropargyl substituent. The use of a 2-azido precursor showed to be a convenient substrate for the SN2 step. Nevertheless, further protecting group manipulation and the introduction of the thiopropargyl anomeric residue were then required. This approach showed to provide access to a variety of thiodisaccharide derivatives as interesting building blocks for the construction of neoglycoconjugates.

Synthesis of N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylallosamine resorcinarene-based multivalent β-thio-glycoclusters: unexpected affinity of N-acetylallosamine ligands towards Wheat Germ Agglutinin

Herein, we report the synthesis of calix[4]resorcinarene-based multivalent ligands bearing β-S-GlcNAc and β-S-AllNAc recognition elements. A clickable β-S-AllNAc derivative was successfully prepared from a β-thioalkynyl GlcNAc precursor, making use of a 2,3-oxazoline intermediate, easily formed by intramolecular displacement of a triflate group located at the 3-position by the 2-N-acetate group. By reaction of these alkynyl-functionalized derivatives with an octaazido-calix[4]resorcinarene macrocycle having undecyl chains, two octavalent glycoclusters exposing the epimeric N-acetylhexosamines were obtained. In addition, a related calix[4]resorcinarene-based glycocluster having methyl groups instead of undecyl chains and β-S-GlcNAc residues was also synthesized. After an initial evaluation of the interaction of the undecyl-functionalized β-S-GlcNAc octavalent derivative with Wheat Germ Agglutinin (WGA) by a turbidimetry experiment, the interaction of the three synthesized glycoclusters towards WGA was studied by Isothermal Titration Calorimetry. The results showed a favorable effect due to the presence of the undecyl chains in terms of affinity. Surprisingly, the β-S-AllNAc octavalent compound showed the highest affinity among the evaluated glycoclusters, showing for the first time that WGA interacts with β-AllNAc-bearing ligands. Molecular docking studies of β-AllNAc with WGA in comparison with β-GlcNAc contributed to the understanding of the atomic interactions responsible for this unexpected affinity.

Synthesis, antiasthmatic, and insecticidal/antifungal activities of allosamidins

Allosamidins come from the secondary metabolites of Streptomyces species, and they have the pseudotrisaccharide structures. Allosamidins are chitinase inhibitors that can be used to study the physiological effects of chitinases in a variety of organisms. They have the novel antiasthmatic activity and insecticidal/antifungal activities. Herein, the synthesis and activities of allosamidins were summarized and analyzed.

High-efficient synthesis and biological activities of allosamidins

The pseudo-trisaccharide allosamidin 1 is a potent inhibitor of all family-18 chitinases, and it is confirmed to have insecticidal and antifungal activities. But the synthesis of allosamidins is very difficult, and it is a challengeable subject. Allosamidins were synthesized in solid-liquid phase, total solid-phase and total liquid-phase, respectively. Solid-liquid phase method realizes the partial solid-phase synthesis of allosamidins. Total solid-phase method greatly simplifies the purification process. Total liquid-phase method shortens the synthetic steps of allosamidins. The insecticidal and antifungal activities of allosamidins were also reported herein.

A concise and efficient synthesis of (-)-allosamizoline

A regio- and stereocontrolled total synthesis of (-)-allosamizoline is described. The key steps for this synthesis are ring-closing metathesis to form the cyclopentene core, halocyclization to afford the oxazoline ring, and finally stereoselective alkene radical addition followed by an alkene isomerization reaction to install the hydroxymethyl group. (-)-Allosamizoline was prepared in a total of 13 steps and 22% overall yield.

Asymmetric allylic alkylation, an enabling methodology

The diversity of mechanisms for enantiodiscrimination and of bond types that can be formed make Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation a powerful key step for simplification of synthetic strategy to complex molecular targets. Using a wide range of different classes of compounds including alkaloids, polyhydrofurans, nucleosides and carbanucleosides, cyclohexitols and cyclopentitols, chromanes, cyclopentanoids, amino acids, barbiturates, etc., novel synthetic strategies emerge that provide short efficient asymmetric syntheses.

Unusual Glycosylation of 9-O-Benzylallosamizoline

Intended selective glycosylation of the 9-O-benzyl ether 4 of allosamizoline 1 with a slight molar excess of 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-2-trichloroacetamido-β-d-glucopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate 6 unexpectedly gave the di-O-glycosylated product 5 in high yield. In its crystalline form, this diglycoside adopts a conformation with the sugar rings extended away from the bicyclic unit of the aglycon and from each other. NMR spectroscopic features indicate that this conformation is not retained in solution.

Anomer-selective inhibition of glycosidases using aminocyclopentanols

[reaction: see text] (1S,2S,3S,4R,5R)-4-amino-5-(hydroxymethyl)cyclopentane-1,2,3-triol 1 is prepared stereoselectively from D-lyxose and displays anomer-selective inhibition for beta-galactosidase (Ki = 3.0 x 10(-6) M) and beta-glucosidase (Ki = 1.5 x 10(-7) M), over alpha-galactosidase (Ki = 2.3 x 10(-5) M) and alpha-glucosidase (IC50 = 1.0 x 10(-4) M). There is no observable cross-reactivity with alpha-mannosidase, beta-mannosidase, or alpha-L-fucosidase.

Synthesis of allosamidin analogues

Two new isomers of allosamidin and allosamizoline, and two dimeric allosamidin analogues have been synthesized. The new compounds have been tested for inhibition of insect chitinase and for toxicity to insect larvae.