Oxetane amino acids: synthesis of tetrameric and hexameric carbopeptoids derived from l-ribo 4-(aminomethyl)-oxetan-2-carboxylic acid

Square sugars: challenges and synthetic strategies

The synthesis of square sugars requires innovative strategies based on efficient stereoselective methodologies, from organocatalysis to metal carbene insertion.

Structurally Divergent Lithium Catalyzed Friedel-Crafts Reactions on Oxetan-3-ols: Synthesis of 3,3-Diaryloxetanes and 2,3-Dihydrobenzofurans

The first examples of 3,3-diaryloxetanes are prepared in a lithium-catalyzed and substrate dependent divergent Friedel-Crafts reaction. para-Selective Friedel-Crafts reactions of phenols using oxetan-3-ols afford 3,3-diaryloxetanes by displacement of the hydroxy group. These constitute new isosteres for benzophenones and diarylmethanes. Conversely, ortho-selective Friedel-Crafts reactions of phenols afford 3-aryl-3-hydroxymethyl-dihydrobenzofurans by tandem alkylation-ring-opening reactions; the outcome of the reaction diverging to structurally distinct products dependent on the substrate regioselectivity. Further reactivity of the oxetane products is demonstrated, suitable for incorporation into drug discovery efforts.

(Pseudo)amide-linked oligosaccharide mimetics: molecular recognition and supramolecular properties

Oligosaccharides are currently recognised as having functions that influence the entire spectrum of cell activities. However, a distinct disadvantage of naturally occurring oligosaccharides is their metabolic instability in biological systems. Therefore, much effort has been spent in the past two decades on the development of feasible routes to carbohydrate mimetics which can compete with their O-glycosidic counterparts in cell surface adhesion, inhibit carbohydrate processing enzymes, and interfere in the biosynthesis of specific cell surface carbohydrates. Such oligosaccharide mimetics are potential therapeutic agents against HIV and other infections, against cancer, diabetes and other metabolic diseases. An efficient strategy to access this type of compounds is the replacement of the glycosidic linkage by amide or pseudoamide functions such as thiourea, urea and guanidine. In this review we summarise the advances over the last decade in the synthesis of oligosaccharide mimetics that possess amide and pseudoamide linkages, as well as studies focussing on their supramolecular and recognition properties.