Synthetic utility of glycosyl triazoles in carbohydrate chemistry

Probing Isosteric Replacement for Immunoadjuvant Design: Bis-Aryl Triazole Trehalolipids are Mincle Agonists

Herein, we report the modular synthesis and immunological activity of seven bis-aryl triazole trehalolipids (1a-1g) as Brartemicin analogs. The compounds comprised one or two octyloxy (C8) alkyl chains and were synthesized using the venerable CuAAc reaction between the respective aryl acetylenes and a trehalose diazide. A Mincle reporter cell assay revealed that all lipidated analogs activated Mincle. Two compounds, 1c and 1d, produced strong Mincle-dependent immune responses in vitro. The activity was dependent on the degree of alkylation and regiochemistry, with 1c and 1d showing significantly increased IL-1β production in vitro compared to monoalkylated compounds and dialkylated compounds lacking ortho substitution. Molecular docking of 1c positioned the triazole in proximity to Arg-183, which may offer additional interactions that could explain the binding affinity for this class of ligand. These findings demonstrate the capability of triazole-linked Brartemicin analogs as Mincle-mediated Th1/Th17 vaccine adjuvants.

Ruthenium Half-Sandwich Type Complexes with Bidentate Monosaccharide Ligands Show Antineoplastic Activity in Ovarian Cancer Cell Models through Reactive Oxygen Species Production

Ruthenium complexes are developed as substitutes for platinum complexes to be used in the chemotherapy of hematological and gynecological malignancies, such as ovarian cancer. We synthesized and screened 14 ruthenium half-sandwich complexes with bidentate monosaccharide ligands in ovarian cancer cell models. Four complexes were cytostatic, but not cytotoxic on A2780 and ID8 cells. The IC₅₀ values were in the low micromolar range (the best being 0.87 µM) and were similar to or lower than those of the clinically available platinum complexes. The active complexes were cytostatic in cell models of glioblastoma, breast cancer, and pancreatic adenocarcinoma, while they were not cytostatic on non-transformed human skin fibroblasts. The bioactive ruthenium complexes showed cooperative binding to yet unidentified cellular target(s), and their activity was dependent on reactive oxygen species production. Large hydrophobic protective groups on the hydroxyl groups of the sugar moiety were needed for biological activity. The cytostatic activity of the ruthenium complexes was dependent on reactive species production. Rucaparib, a PARP inhibitor, potentiated the effects of ruthenium complexes.

Cu(I)-Catalyzed Click Chemistry in Glycoscience and Their Diverse Applications

Copper(I)-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition between organic azides and terminal alkynes, commonly known as CuAAC or click chemistry, has been identified as one of the most successful, versatile, reliable, and modular strategies for the rapid and regioselective construction of 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles as diversely functionalized molecules. Carbohydrates, an integral part of living cells, have several fascinating features, including their structural diversity, biocompatibility, bioavailability, hydrophilicity, and superior ADME properties with minimal toxicity, which support increased demand to explore them as versatile scaffolds for easy access to diverse glycohybrids and well-defined glycoconjugates for complete chemical, biochemical, and pharmacological investigations. This review highlights the successful development of CuAAC or click chemistry in emerging areas of glycoscience, including the synthesis of triazole appended carbohydrate-containing molecular architectures (mainly glycohybrids, glycoconjugates, glycopolymers, glycopeptides, glycoproteins, glycolipids, glycoclusters, and glycodendrimers through regioselective triazole forming modular and bio-orthogonal coupling protocols). It discusses the widespread applications of these glycoproducts as enzyme inhibitors in drug discovery and development, sensing, gelation, chelation, glycosylation, and catalysis. This review also covers the impact of click chemistry and provides future perspectives on its role in various emerging disciplines of science and technology.

Glycosides and Glycoconjugates of the Diterpenoid Isosteviol with a 1,2,3-Triazolyl Moiety: Synthesis and Cytotoxicity Evaluation

Several glycoconjugates of the diterpenoid isosteviol (16-oxo-ent-beyeran-19-oic acid) with a 1,2,3-triazolyl moiety were synthesized, and their cytotoxicity was evaluated against some human cancer and normal cell lines. Most of the synthesized compounds demonstrated weak inhibitory activities against the M-HeLa and MCF-7 human cancer cell lines. Three lead compounds, 54, 56 and 57, exhibited high selective cytotoxic activity against M-HeLa cells (IC₅₀ = 1.7-1.9 μM) that corresponded to the activity of the anticancer drug doxorubicin (IC₅₀ = 3.0 μM). Moreover, the lead compounds were not cytotoxic with respect to a Chang liver human normal cell line (IC₅₀ > 100 μM), whereas doxorubicin was cytotoxic to this cell line (IC₅₀ = 3.0 μM). It was found that cytotoxic activity of the lead compounds is due to induction of apoptosis proceeding along the mitochondrial pathway. The present findings suggest that 1,2,3-triazolyl-ring-containing glycoconjugates of isosteviol are a promising scaffold for the design of novel anticancer agents.

Organocatalyzed preparation of 1,4,5-trisubstituted-glycosyl-1,2,3-triazole derivatives

Organocatalytic coupling of glycosyl azides with enolates of active ketones and esters through azide-enolate [3 + 2] cycloaddition in the presence of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) furnished 1,4,5-trisubstituted-glycosyl-1,2,3-triazole derivatives in excellent yield. The reaction condition is simple and can be scaled-up. Graphical abstract Coupling of glycosyl azides with active ketones through azide-enolate [3 + 2] cycloaddition in the presence of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) furnished 1,4,5-trisubstituted-glycosyl-1,2,3-triazole derivatives in excellent yield.

Synthesis of new triazole linked carbohybrids with ROS-mediated toxicity in breast cancer

Carbohybrids are an important class of molecules which exhibit diverse biological activities. New coumarins and quinolones linked carbohybrids are synthesised which are showing selective anticancer activity.

Gram scale production of 1-azido-β-d-glucose via enzyme catalysis for the synthesis of 1,2,3-triazole-glucosides

The production of analytical amounts of azido sugars is used as a means of verifying catalytic acid/base mutations of retaining glycosidase, but application of this process to preparative synthesis has not been reported. The catalytic acid/base mutant of Thermoanaerobacterium xylanolyticus GH116 β-glucosidase, TxGH116D593A, catalyzed the gram scale production of 1-azido-β-d-glucose (1) from p-nitropheyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (pNPGlc) and azide via a transglucosylation reaction. Overnight reaction of the enzyme with pNPGlc and NaN₃ in aqueous MES buffer (pH 5.5) at 55 °C produced 1 (3.27 g), which was isolated as a white foamy solid in 96% yield. This 1 was successfully utilized for the synthesis of fifteen 1,2,3-triazole-β-d-glucosyl derivatives (2–16) containing a variety of functional groups, via click chemistry.

The retaining β-glucosidase acid/base mutant TxGH116D593A catalyzed the production of 1-azido-β-d-glucose for synthesis of 15 1,2,3-triazole β-glucosyl derivatives.

Cu-Catalyzed Click Reaction in Carbohydrate Chemistry

Cu(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (CuAAC), popularly known as the "click reaction", serves as the most potent and highly dependable tool for facile construction of simple to complex architectures at the molecular level. Click-knitted threads of two exclusively different molecular entities have created some really interesting structures for more than 15 years with a broad spectrum of applicability, including in the fascinating fields of synthetic chemistry, medicinal science, biochemistry, pharmacology, material science, and catalysis. The unique properties of the carbohydrate moiety and the advantages of highly chemo- and regioselective click chemistry, such as mild reaction conditions, efficient performance with a wide range of solvents, and compatibility with different functionalities, together produce miraculous neoglycoconjugates and neoglycopolymers with various synthetic, biological, and pharmaceutical applications. In this review we highlight the successful advancement of Cu(I)-catalyzed click chemistry in glycoscience and its applications as well as future scope in different streams of applied sciences.

Identification of gallic acid based glycoconjugates as a novel tubulin polymerization inhibitors

A novel class of gallic acid based glycoconjugates were designed and synthesized as potential anticancer agents. Among all the compounds screened, compound 2a showed potent anticancer activity against breast cancer cells. The latter resulted in tubulin polymerization inhibition and induced G2/M cell cycle arrest, generation of reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial depolarization and subsequent apoptosis in breast cancer cells. In addition, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and fluorescence quenching studies of the compound with tubulin confirmed direct interaction of compounds with tubulin. Molecular modeling studies revealed that it binds at the colchicine binding site in tubulin. Further, 2a also exhibited potent in vivo anticancer activity in LA-7 syngeneic rat mammary tumor model. Current data projects its strong candidature to be developed as anticancer agent.

'Click chemistry' synthesis of 1-(α-D-mannopyranosyl)-1,2,3-triazoles for inhibition of α-mannosidases

Three new triazole conjugates derived from d-mannose were synthesized and assayed in in vitro assays to investigate their ability to inhibit α-mannosidase enzymes from the glycoside hydrolase (GH) families 38 and 47. The triazole conjugates were more selective for a GH47 α-mannosidase (Aspergillus saitoi α1,2-mannosidase), showing inhibition at the micromolar level (IC50 values of 50-250 μM), and less potent towards GH38 mannosidases (IC50 values in the range of 0.5-6 mM towards jack bean α-mannosidase or Drosophila melanogaster lysosomal and Golgi α-mannosidases). The highest selectivity ratio [IC50(GH38)/IC50(GH47)] of 100 was exhibited by the phenyltriazole conjugate. To understand structure-activity properties of synthesized compounds, 3-D complexes of inhibitors with α-mannosidases were built using molecular docking calculations.

Light-induced structural evolution of photoswitchable carbohydrate-based surfactant micelles

We report the light-induced structural evolution of photoswitchable carbohydrate-based surfactant micelles using time-resolved small-angle neutron scattering (TR-SANS), monitoring the structural changes in micellisation in situ over time and demonstrating for the first time the course and implications of this process.

Synthesis and Properties of Photoswitchable Carbohydrate Fluorosurfactants

We describe the parallel synthesis, photocontrollable surface tension, and antibacterial performance of a new class of carbohydrate fluorosurfactant. Novel fluorosurfactants comprised a mono- or disaccharide head group linked to an azobenzene unit that was variably substituted with a trifluoromethyl group. Fluorosurfactants were rapidly assembled using the venerable CuI-catalysed azide–alkyne cycloaddition reaction and exhibited light-addressable surface activity, excellent water solubility, and selective antibacterial activity against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus. Notably, the physicochemical and biological activity of these novel materials was heavily dependent on the nature of the head group and the position of the trifluoromethyl substituent on the azobenzene ring. The UV-adapted cis-isomer of fluorosurfactants displayed good thermal stability at ambient temperature, with little reversion to the stable trans isomer after 16 h. These novel, light-responsive materials should find broad interest in a range of biomedical and technological fields, including drug and gene delivery, self-cleaning oleophobic surfaces, and antibacterial coatings for medical devices.

β-Glucosidase involvement in the bioactivation of glycosyl conjugates in plants: synthesis and metabolism of four glycosidic bond conjugates in vitro and in vivo

Mobile glucose-pesticide conjugates in the phloem are often restricted by decreases in biological activity. However, plants can bioactivate endogenous glucosides, which are assumed as able to bioactivate exogenous conjugates. In this study, four glycosidic bonds (O-, S-, N-, and C-glycosidic bonds) of glucose-pesticide conjugates were designed and synthesized, and then metabolism assays were carried out in vitro and in vivo. Results showed that β-glucosidases played a role in the hydrolysis of O-glycosidic bond conjugates in Ricinus communis L. The liberated aglycons possessed insecticidal activities against Plutella xylostella L. and Spodoptera litura F. These results could help establish methods of circumventing the mutual exclusivity of phloem mobility and biological activity by hydrolyzing endogenous β-glucosidases.

Synthesis and analysis of potential α1,3-fucosyltransferase inhibitors

Fucosyltransferases catalyze the transfer of l-fucose from an activated GDP-β-l-fucose to various acceptor molecules such as N-acetyllactosamine. Frequently fucosylation is the final step within the glycosylation machinery, and the resulting glycans are involved in various cellular processes such as cell-cell recognition, adhesion and inflammation or tumor metastasis. The selective blocking of these interactions would thus be a potential promising therapeutic strategy. The syntheses and analyses of various potential α1,3-fucosyltransferase inhibitors derived from GDP-β-l-fucose containing a triazole linker unit is summarized and the observed inhibitory effect was compared with that of small molecules such as GDP or fucose. To examine their specificity and selectivity, all inhibitors were tested with human α1,3-fucosyltransferase IX and Helicobacter pylori α1,3-fucosyltransferase, which is to date the only α1,3-fucosyltransferase with a known high resolution structure. Specific inhibitors which inhibit either H. pylori α1,3-fucosyltransferase or human fucosyltransferase IX with Ki values in the micromolar range were identified. In that regard, acetylated GDP-galactose derivative Ac-3 turned out to inhibit H. pylori α1,3-fucosyltransferase but not human fucosyltransferase IX, whereas GDP-6-amino-β-l-fucose 17 showed an appreciably better inhibitory effect on fucosyltransferase IX activity than on that of H. pylori fucosyltransferase.

Design and synthesis of multivalent neoglycoconjugates by click conjugations

A highly stereoselective BF₃∙OEt₂-promoted tandem hydroamination/glycosylation on glycal scaffolds has been developed to form propargyl 3-tosylamino-2,3-dideoxysugars in a one-pot manner. Subsequent construction of multivalent 3-tosylamino-2,3-dideoxyneoglycoconjugates with potential biochemical applications was presented herein involving click conjugations as the key reaction step. The copper-catalyzed regioselective click reaction was tremendously accelerated with assistance of microwave irradiation.

Click chemistry inspired highly facile synthesis of triazolyl ethisterone glycoconjugates

Numerous deoxy-azido sugars 3 were prepared by the reaction of tosyl/bromo sugars with NaN3 in dry DMF under heating condition. The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of deoxy-azido sugars 3 with ethisterone 4 to afford regioselective triazole-linked ethisterone glycoconjugates 5 was investigated in the presence of CuI and DIPEA in dichloromethane or CuSO4·5H2O and sodium ascorbate in aqueous medium. All the developed compounds were characterized by spectroscopic analysis (IR, (1)H &(13)C NMR, and MS spectra). Structure of triazolyl ethisterone glycoconjugate 5a has been further confirmed by its Single Crystal X-ray analysis.

A prodrug approach toward cancer-related carbonic anhydrase inhibition

The selective inhibition of cancer-associated human carbonic anhydrase (CA) enzymes, specifically CA IX and XII, has been validated as a mechanistically novel approach toward personalized cancer management. Herein we report the design and synthesis of a panel of 24 novel glycoconjugate primary sulfonamides that bind to the extracellular catalytic domain of CA IX and XII. These compounds were synthesized from variably acylated glycopyranosyl azides and either 3- or 4-ethynyl benzene sulfonamide using Cu(I)-catalyzed azide alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC). The CA enzyme inhibition profile for all compounds was determined, while in vitro metabolic stability, plasma stability, and plasma protein binding for a representative set of compounds was measured. Our findings demonstrate the influence of the differing acyl groups on these key biopharmaceutical properties, confirming that acyl group protected carbohydrate-based sulfonamides have potential as prodrugs for selectively targeting the extracellular cancer-associated CA enzymes.

Synthesis and biological activity of the nucleoside analogs based on polyfluoroalkyl-substituted 1,2,3-triazoles

This paper offers the results of a synthesis and study of cytotoxicity and the anti-Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) activity of new 2-deoxy-2-chloro-pyranosyl derivatives of 4-tosyl-5-trifluoromethyl-1,2,3-triazole obtained via the addition reaction of the corresponding 2-N-chlorotriazole to the double bond of 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-D-glucal. Nucleoside mimetics, derivatives of 4-tosyl-5-polyfluoroalkyl-1,2,3-triazoles containing fragments of 3-chloro-tetrahydrofuran, 3-chloro-tetrahydropyran, tetrahydropyran, dihydrofuran, dihydropyran, or acyclic substituents, were also studied. Evaluation of cytotoxicity (trypan blue and MTT methods) and anti-EBV activity (polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method) showed high selectivity indices for the compounds 4a, 4b, 5b, 6, and 8. A total of 15 novel compounds were examined in this study.

Synthesis of glucose-fipronil conjugate and its phloem mobility

Phloem-mobile insecticides are preferred to achieve economically useful activity. However, only a few phloem-mobile synthetic insecticides are available. One approach to converting nonmobile insecticides into phloem-mobile types is introducing sugar to the parent compound. To test whether the addition of a glucose group to a non-phloem-mobile insecticide enables conversion into phloem-mobile, N-[3-cyano-1-[2,6-dichloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-4-[(trifluoromethyl)sulfinyl]-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]-1-(β-D-glucopyranosyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazole-4-methanamine (GTF) was prepared through click chemistry. A phloem-mobility test in Ricinus communis L. seedlings confirmed that GTF was mobile in the sieve tubes. Although GTF exhibited lower insecticidal activity against the third-instar larvae of Pzlutella xylostella than fipronil did, it can be reconverted into fipronil in adult plants of castor bean, thereby offsetting the decrease of insecticidal activity. Therefore, the presence of a glucose core confers phloem mobility to fipronil.

Synthesis of 1,2,3-triazole linked galactopyranosides and evaluation of cholera toxin inhibition

We report the synthesis of a series of bivalent 1,2,3-triazole linked galactopyranosides as potential inhibitors of cholera toxin (CT). The inhibitory activity of the bivalent series was examined (ELISA) and the series showed low inhibitory activity (millimolar IC(50)s). Conversely, the monomeric galactotriazole analogues were strong inhibitors of cholera toxin (IC(50) = 71-75 μM).

Targeting hypoxic tumor cell viability with carbohydrate-based carbonic anhydrase IX and XII inhibitors

Carbonic anhydrase (CA) enzymes, specifically membrane-bound isozymes CA IX and CA XII, underpin a pH-regulating system that enables hypoxic tumor cell survival and proliferation. CA IX and XII are implicated as potential targets for the development of new hypoxic cancer therapies. To date, only a few small molecules have been characterized in CA-relevant cell and animal model systems. In this paper, we describe the development of a new class of carbohydrate-based small molecule CA inhibitors, many of which inhibit CA IX and XII within a narrow range of low nanomolar K(i) values (5.3-11.2 nM). We evaluate for the first time carbohydrate-based CA inhibitors in cell-based models that emulate the protective role of CA IX in an acidic tumor microenvironment. Our findings identified two inhibitors (compounds 5 and 17) that block CA IX-induced survival and have potential for development as in vivo cancer cell selective inhibitors.