13C-1H spin-coupling constants in carbohydrates: magnitude and sign determinations via 2D NMR methods

Nonconventional NMR Spin-Coupling Constants in Oligosaccharide Conformational Modeling: Structural Dependencies Determined from Density Functional Theory Calculations

Nonconventional NMR spin-coupling constants were investigated to determine their potential as conformational constraints in MA'AT modeling of the O-glycosidic linkages of oligosaccharides. Four (¹ J _C1',H1', ¹ J _C1',C2', ² J _C1',H2', and ² J _C2',H1') and eight (¹ J _C4,H4, ¹ J _C3,C4, ¹ J _C4,C5, ² J _C3,H4, ² J _C4,H3, ² J _C5,H4, ² J _C4,H5, and ² J _C3,C5) spin-couplings in methyl β-d-galactopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-d-glucopyranoside (methyl β-lactoside) were calculated using density functional theory (DFT) to determine their dependencies on O-glycosidic linkage C-O torsion angles, ϕ and ψ, respectively. Long-range ⁴ J _H1',H4 was also examined as a potential conformational constraint of either ϕ or ψ. Secondary effects of exocyclic (hydroxyl) C-O bond rotation within or proximal to these coupling pathways were investigated. Based on the findings of methyl β-lactoside, analogous J-couplings were studied in five additional two-bond O-glycosidic linkages [βGlcNAc-(1→4)-βMan, 2-deoxy-βGlc-(1→4)-βGlc, αMan-(1→3)-βMan, αMan-(1→2)-αMan, and βGlcNAc(1→2)-αMan] to determine whether the coupling behaviors observed in methyl β-lactoside were more broadly observed. Of the 13 nonconventional J-couplings studied, 7 exhibit properties that may be useful in future MA'AT modeling of O-glycosidic linkages, none of which involve coupling pathways that include the linkage C-O bonds. The findings also provide new insights into the general effects of exocyclic C-O bond conformation on the magnitude of experimental spin-couplings in saccharides and other hydroxyl-containing molecules.

Informing saccharide structural NMR studies with density functional theory calculations

Density functional theory (DFT) is a powerful computational tool to enable structural interpretations of NMR spin-spin coupling constants ( J-couplings) in saccharides, including the abundant (1)H-(1)H ( JHH), (13)C-(1)H ( JCH), and (13)C-(13)C ( JCC) values that exist for coupling pathways comprised of 1-4 bonds. The multiple hydroxyl groups in saccharides, with their attendant lone-pair orbitals, exert significant effects on J-couplings that can be difficult to decipher and quantify without input from theory. Oxygen substituent effects are configurational and conformational in origin (e.g., axial/equatorial orientation of an OH group in an aldopyranosyl ring; C-O bond conformation involving an exocyclic OH group). DFT studies shed light on these effects, and if conducted properly, yield quantitative relationships between a specific J-coupling and one or more conformational elements in the target molecule. These relationships assist studies of saccharide structure and conformation in solution, which are often challenged by the presence of conformational averaging. Redundant J-couplings, defined as an ensemble of J-couplings sensitive to the same conformational element, are particularly helpful when the element is flexible in solution (i.e., samples multiple conformational states on the NMR time scale), provided that algorithms are available to convert redundant J-values into meaningful conformational models. If the latter conversion is achievable, the data can serve as a means of testing, validating, and refining theoretical methods like molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, which are currently relied upon heavily to assign conformational models of saccharides in solution despite a paucity of experimental data needed to independently validate the method.

[13C,15N]2-Acetamido-2-deoxy-d-aldohexoses and Their Methyl Glycosides: Synthesis and NMR Investigations of J-Couplings Involving 1H, 13C, and 15N

[reaction: see text] A series of 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-[1-13C]aldohexoses and their methyl glycosides was prepared with use of a simplified cyanohydrin reduction route. Four d-aldopentosylamines (arabino, lyxo, ribo, xylo) were prepared from the corresponding D-aldopentoses by reaction with NH3(g) in MeOH solvent, isolated in solid form, and characterized by 13C and 1H NMR. Hydrolysis of beta-D-xylopyranosylamine was studied using 13C-labeled substrates to establish optimal solution conditions for cyanohydrin formation. Major hydrolytic intermediates were observed and identified by time-lapse 1D and 2D NMR analyses of reaction mixtures. The aldopentosylamines were subsequently employed in cyanohydrin reduction reactions with K13CN to yield C2-epimeric [1-13C]2-aminosugars, which were separated by chromatography on ion-exchange columns. N-Acetylation and methyl glycosidation followed by chromatography gave pure 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-[1-13C]aldohexopyranosides. J(CH) and J(CC) spin-spin coupling constants involving the labeled anomeric carbon were measured and compared to those observed previously in methyl D-[1-13C]aldohexopyranosides. In parallel studies, theoretical J-couplings were calculated in model N-acetylated aldopyranosides using density functional theory (DFT) to predict the effect of OH vs NHCOCH(3) substitution at C2 on J(CH) and J(CC) values in aldopyranosyl rings. The synthetic method was also modified to accommodate (15)N- and (13)C-labeling within the N-acetyl side-chain, and some J-couplings involving 1H, 13C, and 15N atoms in 2-[1,2-13C2;15N]acetamido-2-deoxy-D-[1-13C]glucose were measured and interpreted.

4JCOCCH and 4JCCCCH as Probes of Exocyclic Hydroxymethyl Group Conformation in Saccharides

[structure: see text] 1H NMR spectra of aldohexopyranosyl rings containing 13C-enrichment at either C1 or C3 reveal the presence of long-range 4J(C1,H6R/S) and 4J(C3,H6R/S) whose magnitudes depend mainly on the O5-C5-C6-O6 torsion angle. Using theoretical calculations (density functional theory, DFT; B3LYP/6-31G*) and conformationally constrained experimental model compounds, the magnitudes and signs of 4J(C1,H6R/S) and 4J(C3,H6R/S) have been established, and their dependencies on the geometry of the C1-O5-C5-C6-H6R/S and C3-C4-C5-C6-H6R/S coupling pathways, respectively, were determined. The latter dependencies mimic that observed previously for 4J(HH) in aliphatic compounds such as propane. DFT calculations also showed that inclusion of non-Fermi contact terms is important for accurate predictions of 4J(CH) values. Application to methyl alpha- and beta-D-glucopyranosides reveals different rotameric distributions about their hydroxymethyl groups, with the beta-anomer enriched in the gt rotamer, in agreement with recent multi-J redundant coupling analyses. 4J(C1,H6R/S) and 4J(C3,H6R/S) are expected to complement other recently developed J-couplings for the assignment of hydroxymethyl group conformation in oligosaccharides containing 1,6-glycosidic linkages.

Correlated C-C and C-O bond conformations in saccharide hydroxymethyl groups: parametrization and application of redundant 1H-1H, 13C-1H, and 13C-13C NMR J-couplings

Methyl alpha- and beta-pyranosides of d-glucose and d-galactose 1-4 were prepared containing single sites of (13)C-enrichment at C4, C5, and C6 (12 compounds), and (1)H and (13)C[(1)H] NMR spectra were obtained to determine a complete set of J-couplings ((1)J, (2)J, and (3)J) involving the labeled carbon and nearby protons and carbons within the exocyclic hydroxymethyl group (CH(2)OH) of each compound. In parallel theoretical studies, the dependencies of (1)J, (2)J, and (3)J involving (1)H and (13)C on the C5-C6 (omega) and C6-O6 (theta;) torsion angles in aldohexopyranoside model compounds were computed using density functional theory (DFT) and a special basis set designed to reliably recover the Fermi contact contribution to the coupling. Complete hypersurfaces for (1)J(C5,C6), (2)J(C5,H6)(R), (2)J(C5,H6)(S), (2)J(C6,H5), (2)J(C4,C6), (3)J(C4,H6)(R), (3)J(C4,H6)(S), and (3)J(C6,H4), as well as (2)J(H6)(R)(,H6)(S), (3)J(H5,H6)(R), and (3)J(H5,H6)(S), were obtained and used to parametrize new equations correlating these couplings to omega and/or theta;. DFT-computed couplings were also tested for accuracy by measuring J-couplings in (13)C-labeled 4,6-O-ethylidene derivatives of d-glucose and d-galactose in which values of omega and theta; were constrained. Using a new computer program, Chymesa, designed to utilize multiple J-couplings sensitive to exocyclic CH(2)OH conformation, the ensemble of experimental couplings observed in 1-4 were analyzed to yield preferred rotamer populations about omega and theta;. Importantly, due to the sensitivity of some couplings, most notably (2)J(H6)(R)(,H6)(S), (2)J(C5,H6)(R), and (2)J(C5,H6)(S), to both omega and theta;, unique information on correlated conformation about both torsion angles was obtained. The latter treatment represents a means of evaluating correlated conformation in 1,6-linked oligosaccharides, since psi and theta; are redundant in these linkages. In the latter regard, multiple, redundant scalar couplings originating from both sides of the glycosidic linkage can be used collectively to evaluate conformational correlations between psi/theta; and C5-C6 bond rotamers.

2JC,H Index: A Nondestructive NMR Method for Differentiation of Aldohexopyranosyl Residues

A new 2J(C,H) index method is described for identification of aldohexopyranose. This method is based on a fact that 2J(C,H) values reflect the stereochemistry for glycol connectivity. Based on the observed 2J(C,H) values for galactose, glucose, and mannose, 2J(C,H) profiles for other aldohexopyranoses are proposed. A combination of 2J(C,H) values was found to be useful for identification of aldohexopyranosyl residues in glycans. [structure: see text]

13C-labeled platinum(IV)-carbohydrate complexes: structure determination based on (1)H-(1)H, (13)C-(1)H, and (13)C-(13)C spin-spin coupling constants

The reaction of D-mannose and D-allose with [PtMe(3)(Me(2)CO)(3)]BF(4) 1 in acetone affords complexes [PtMe(3)L]BF(4) 5 and 6 (5, L = alpha-D-mannofuranose; 6, L = beta-D-allofuranose). The coordination mode and conformation of the carbohydrate ligands in 5 and 6 in acetone-d(6) have been determined from an analysis of J(HH), J(CH), and J(CC) in complexes formed using site-specific (13)C-labeled D-mannose and D-allose. These coupling data are compared to those measured in (13)C-labeled complex [PtMe(3)L]BF(4) 2 (L = 1, 2-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-glucofuranose) and 1, 2-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-glucofuranose 3, whose solid-state structures are known, and in (13)C-labeled 1,2;5, 6-di-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-glucofuranose 4. The preferred furanose ring conformations in 2 and 5 are very similar ((3)E/E(4) and E(4)/(o)E/E(1), respectively; eastern hemisphere of the pseudorotational itinerary), with platinum coordination involving O3, O5, and O6 of the saccharide. In contrast, the furanose ring of 6 prefers an (4)E/E(o)/(1)E geometry (western hemisphere of the pseudorotational itinerary) resulting from altered complexation involving O1, O5, and O6. Couplings within the exocyclic fragments of 2, 5, and 6 also support the existence of two different platinum coordination modes. In addition to establishing the structures and conformations of 2, 5, and 6 in solution, one-, two-, and three-bond J(CH) and J(CC) observed in these complexes provide new insights into the effect of structure and conformation on the magnitudes of these couplings in saccharides. Weak platinum(IV) complexation with the carbohydrate conformationally restricts the furanose and exocyclic fragment without introducing undesirable structural strain, thereby allowing more reliable correlations between structure and coupling magnitude.

Isolation and characterization of non-labeled and 13C-labeled mannans from Pichia pastoris yeast

Mannans from genetically modified Pichia pastoris yeast, used for overproduction of neural cell adhesion molecule protein, grown on normal media or on uniformly 13C-labeled glucose and methanol, were isolated and characterized by high-field (750 MHz) NMR spectroscopy. Fully 13C-labeled oligosaccharide fragments were prepared from mannans by acetolysis. According to the data obtained, the mannan is made up of a main chain of alpha-(1-->6)-linked mannopyranosyl residues, substituted at 0-2 with alpha-mannopyranosyl or a alpha-D-Manp-(1-->2)-beta-D-Manp-(1-->2)-beta-D-Manp-( 1-->2)-alpha-D-Manp- group, and with much lower content of substitution with beta-D-Manp-(1-->2)-alpha-D-Manp-. A fraction of these oligosaccharide side chains is again substituted with alpha-D-Glcp or alpha-D-GlcpNAc through a phosphodiester linkage to the 6 position of the first mannopyranosyl residue. Improved conditions of acetolysis, cleaving all alpha-(1-->6) linkages, but not beta-mannoside linkages, are proposed.

Three-dimensional structures of oligosaccharides

Oligosaccharides represent a particularly challenging class of molecules for conformational analysis. Recent advances in experimental and theoretical methods have begun to yield further insight into their conformational behavior; however, general rules governing their conformational preferences have not yet emerged. X-ray and NMR techniques may provide vital insights into protein-bound oligosaccharide conformations, but these do not necessarily represent highly populated solution conformations. Moreover, an oligosaccharide's inherent flexibility and lack of strong intermolecular interactions places extreme demands on theoretical methods.