The ferric chloride-catalyzed glycosylation of alcohols by 2-acylamido-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranose 1-acetates

Protecting group free glycosylation: one-pot stereocontrolled access to 1,2-trans glycosides and (1→6)-linked disaccharides of 2-acetamido sugars

Unprotected 2-acetamido sugars may be directly converted into their oxazolines using 2-chloro-1,3-dimethylimidazolinium chloride (DMC), and a suitable base, in aqueous solution. Freeze drying and acid catalysed reaction with an alcohol as solvent produces the corresponding 1,2-trans-glycosides in good yield. Alternatively, dissolution in an aprotic solvent system and acidic activation in the presence of an excess of an unprotected glycoside as a glycosyl acceptor, results in the stereoselective formation of the corresponding 1,2-trans linked disaccharides without any protecting group manipulations. Reactions using aryl glycosides as acceptors are completely regioselective, producing only the (1→6)-linked disaccharides.

Temporary ether protecting groups at the anomeric center in complex carbohydrate synthesis

The synthesis of a carbohydrate building block usually starts with introduction of a temporary protecting group at the anomeric center and ends with its selective cleavage for further transformation. Thus, the choice of the anomeric temporary protecting group must be carefully considered because it should retain intact during the whole synthetic manipulation, and it should be chemoselectively removable without affecting other functional groups at a late stage in the synthesis. Etherate groups are the most widely used temporary protecting groups at the anomeric center, generally including allyl ethers, MP (p-methoxyphenyl) ethers, benzyl ethers, PMB (p-methoxybenzyl) eithers, and silyl ethers. This chapter provides a comprehensive review on their formation, cleavage, and applications in the synthesis of complex carbohydrates.

Iron(iii) chloride-catalyzed activation of glycosyl chlorides

Glycosyl chlorides have historically been activated using harsh conditions and/or toxic stoichiometric promoters. More recently, the Ye and the Jacobsen groups showed that glycosyl chlorides can be activated under organocatalytic conditions. However, those reactions are slow, require specialized catalysts and high temperatures, but still provide only moderate yields. Presented herein is a simple method for the activation of glycosyl chlorides using abundant and inexpensive ferric chloride in catalytic amounts. Our preliminary results indicate that both benzylated and benzoylated glycosyl chlorides can be activated with 20 mol% of FeCl3.

Synthesis of a Pentasaccharide Fragment Related to the Inner Core Region of Rhizobial and Agrobacterial Lipopolysaccharides

The pentasaccharide fragment α-d-Man-(1 → 5)-[α-d-Kdo-(2 → 4)-]α-d-Kdo-(2 → 6)-β-d-GlcNAc-(1 → 6)-α-d-GlcNAc equipped with a 3-aminopropyl spacer moiety was prepared by a sequential assembly of monosaccharide building blocks. The glucosamine disaccharide—as a backbone surrogate of the bacterial lipid A region—was synthesized using an 1,3-oxazoline donor, which was followed by coupling with an isopropylidene-protected Kdo-fluoride donor to afford a protected tetrasaccharide intermediate. Eventually, an orthogonally protected manno-configured trichloroacetimidate donor was used to achieve the sterically demanding glycosylation of the 5-OH group of Kdo in good yield. The resulting pentasaccharide is suitably protected for further chain elongation at positions 3, 4, and 6 of the terminal mannose. Global deprotection afforded the target pentasaccharide to be used for the conversion into neoglycoconjugates and “clickable” ligands.

Development of chemical and chemo-enzymatic glycosylations

Glycosidic compounds are indispensable molecules in living systems. Biological phenomena such as cell wall formation, energy storage, and cell recognition strongly depend on the multi-functional characters of these substances. Development of highly regio- and stereoselective glycosylation reactions is necessary to provide sufficient amounts of specific compounds in basic research as well as for applications in industry. This review presents an overview of chemical and chemo-enzymatic glycosylations that have been developed during my forty-year academic career in the field of glyco-science. In the course of these studies, several new concepts such as "Direct Anomeric Activation", "Glyco-Process Chemistry" and "Glyco-Chemistry Cycles" have been established.

Synthesis of Galα(1,3)Galβ(1,4)GlcNAcα-, Galβ(1,4)GlcNAcα- and GlcNAc-containing neoglycoproteins and their immunological evaluation in the context of Chagas disease

The protozoan parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease (ChD), has a cell surface covered by immunogenic glycoconjugates. One of the immunodominant glycotopes, the trisaccharide Galα(1,3)Galβ(1,4)GlcNAcα, is expressed on glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored mucins of the infective trypomastigote stage of T. cruzi and triggers high levels of protective anti-α-Gal antibodies (Abs) in infected individuals. Here, we have efficiently synthesized the mercaptopropyl glycoside of that glycotope and conjugated it to maleimide-derivatized bovine serum albumin (BSA). Chemiluminescent-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay revealed that Galα(1,3)Galβ(1,4)GlcNAcα-BSA is recognized by purified anti-α-Gal Abs from chronic ChD patients ∼230-fold more strongly than by anti-α-Gal Abs from sera of healthy individuals (NHS anti-α-Gal). Similarly, the pooled sera of chronic Chagas disease patients (ChHSP) recognized Galα(1,3)Galβ(1,4)GlcNAcα ∼20-fold more strongly than pooled NHS. In contrast, the underlying disaccharide Galβ(1,4)GlcNAcα and the monosaccharide GlcNAcα or GlcNAcβ conjugated to BSA are poorly or not recognized by purified anti-α-Gal Abs or sera from Chagasic patients or healthy individuals. Our results highlight the importance of the terminal Galα moiety for recognition by Ch anti-α-Gal Abs and the lack of Abs against nonself Galβ(1,4)GlcNAcα and GlcNAcα glycotopes. The substantial difference in binding of Ch vs. NHS anti-α-Gal Abs to Galα(1,3)Galβ(1,4)GlcNAcα-BSA suggests that this neoglycoprotein (NGP) might be suitable for experimental vaccination. To this end, the Galα(1,3)Galβ(1,4)GlcNAcα-BSA NGP was then used to immunize α1,3-galactosyltransferase-knockout mice, which produced antibody titers 40-fold higher as compared with pre-immunization titers. Taken together, our results indicate that the synthetic Galα(1,3)Galβ(1,4)GlcNAcα glycotope coupled to a carrier protein could be a potential diagnostic and vaccine candidate for ChD.

Linear synthesis of the branched pentasaccharide repeats of O-antigens from Shigella flexneri 1a and 1b demonstrating the major steric hindrance associated with type-specific glucosylation

Shigella flexneri serotypes 1b and 1a are Gram-negative enteroinvasive bacteria causing shigellosis in humans.

Direct formation of beta-glycosides of N-acetyl glycosamines mediated by rare earth metal triflates

A direct, mild and efficient protocol for the preparation of beta-glycosides of N-acetyl glucosamine (GlcNAc) and N-acetyl galactosamine (GalNAc) has been developed using peracetylated beta-GlcNAc and beta-GalNAc as donors. All rare Earth metal triflate promoters screened were found to promote glycosylation with Sc(OTf)(3) being superior in terms of reaction rate. Simple alcohol glycosylation was found to proceed smoothly in refluxing dichloromethane, whereas higher temperatures under microwave conditions were needed to attain acceptable yields with less reactive, carbohydrate based glycosyl acceptors. The protocol developed was applied to provide the first example of direct chemical formation of a disaccharide using both GlcNAc as a glycosyl donor and acceptor. The alpha-acetate donor was found to be significantly less reactive than the corresponding beta-anomer necessitating higher reaction temperatures under which glycoside anomerisation was found to occur. It was established, that the anomerisation only took place in the presence of both Sc(OTf)(3) and acetic acid.

Synthesis of neoglycoproteins containing O-methylated trisaccharides related to excretory/secretory antigens of Toxocara larvae

The disaccharides allyl beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->3)-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta- and alpha-D-galactopyranoside 10a and 10b and the trisaccharides allyl 2-O-methyl-alpha-L-fucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->3)-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta- and alpha-D-galactopyranoside 18a and 18b have been prepared using stepwise assembly of the sugar units. The glycosidic linkages were formed employing the trichloroacetimidate procedure for the attachment of the galactopyranosyl residue and N-iodosuccinimide/triflic acid activation of an ethyl 1-thiofucopyranoside donor for fucosylation. Deprotection furnished the allyl glycosides which were converted into cysteamine-spacered ligands, activated with thiophosgene and subsequently linked to bovine serum albumin. The neoglycoproteins serve as immunoreagents to determine epitope specificities of monoclonal antibodies directed against highly immunogenic O-glycans located at the surface of Toxocara larvae.

An efficient synthesis of two monosulfated trisaccharides with the Galbeta1,3GlcNacbeta1,3Galbeta-O-allyl backbone

The GlcNAcbeta(1-->3) Gal linked disaccharide 7 was synthesized as key building blocks for the construction of target monosulfated trisaccharides 1 and 2 using oxazoline 3 as glycosyl donor promoted by BF3 x Et2O.

beta-1,4-Galactosyltransferase-catalyzed synthesis of the branched tetrasaccharide repeating unit of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 14

A chemoenzymatic approach is described towards the branched tetrasaccharide repeating unit, beta-D-Galp- (1-->4)-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->6)-[beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)]-beta-D-GlcpNac, of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 14 in a form suitable for conjugation. The linear trisaccharide acceptor, beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->6)-beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->O)CH2CH++ + = CH2, was synthesized by coupling of peracetylated lactosyl trichloroacetimidate to a suitably protected glucosamine building block and subsequent deprotection steps. The obtained derivative was found to be a good acceptor for bovine milk beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase, and the resulting branched tetrasaccharide beta-allyl glycoside was isolated and characterized by NMR spectroscopy and FAB mass spectrometry. Reaction of the anomeric allyl function with cysteamine under UV-irradiation gave the beta-aminoethylthio-extended glycoside suitable for further coupling of the tetrasaccharide to protein carriers.

Conformational differences between Fuc(alpha 1-3) GlcNAc and its thioglycoside analogue

NOE measurements and molecular mechanics calculations have been performed to study the conformational behaviour of Fuc(alpha 1-3)GlcNAc and its thioglycoside analogue in solution. Experimental data show that, in contrast with the natural O-disaccharide, which is basically monoconformational, the S-analogue shows two conformational families, namely syn and anti.

An improved procedure for the analysis of linkage positions in 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranosyl residues by the reductive-cleavage method

The conditions of the reductive-cleavage method were modified to allow simultaneous analysis of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranosyl residues and monosaccharides of other classes. Methyl 2-deoxy-3,4,6-tri-O-methyl-2-(N-methylacetamido)-beta-D-glucopyran oside was found to undergo transglycosidation under reductive-cleavage conditions when the reaction was quenched with an alcohol. Transglycosidation proceeded via an oxazolinium-ion intermediate, which then acted as a glycosyl donor to form an anomerically pure product. Time-course studies showed that in the presence of trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (Me3SiOSO2CF3), 4 h were required for complete conversion of the substrate into this intermediate, which was then trapped with methanol-d4. When the reaction was conducted in the presence of a mixture of trimethylsilyl methanesulfonate (Me3SiOSO2Me) and boron trifluoride etherate (BF3.OEt2) or with BF3.OEt2 alone, 24 h and 48 h, respectively, were required for complete conversion. The alpha anomer was unreactive after 24 h under all conditions, confirming earlier results. Reaction with racemic 2-butanol yielded a pair of diastereomers, in a 1:1 ratio, which were distinguishable by their GLC retention times and their 1H NMR spectra. Reaction with (S)-2-butanol gave only one of the diastereomeric products. These experiments demonstrated the feasibility of using the reductive-cleavage method to determine the absolute configuration of 2-acetamido sugars.

Synthesis of a tetrasaccharide of the genus-specific lipopolysaccharide epitope of Chlamydia

Allyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-3,4-O-(1,1,3,3-tetraisopropyldisiloxan-1,3- diyl)-beta-D- glucopyranoside was coupled with methyl (4,5,7,8-tetra-O-acetyl-3-deoxy-alpha-D-manno-2-octulopyranosyl bromide)onate (1) to give a good yield of the alpha-(2----6)-linked disaccharide, isolated after deacetylation and regioselective conversion into the corresponding 7',8'-O-carbonyl or 7',8'-O-(1,1,3,3-tetraisopropyldisiloxane-1,3-diyl) derivatives, respectively. Subsequent glycosylation with 1 gave a high yield of the alpha- and beta-(2"----4')-linked trisaccharide derivatives 16 and 18, whereas block synthesis using the alpha-(2----8)-linked Kdo-disaccharide bromide derivative 19 afforded a low yield of the corresponding alpha- and beta-(2"----4')-linked tetrasaccharide derivatives 20 and 22. Removal of the protecting groups furnished the disaccharide allyl O-(sodium 3-deoxy-alpha-D-manno-2-octulopyranosylonate)-(2----6)-2-acetamido -2-deoxy- beta-D-glucopyranoside, the trisaccharide allyl O-(sodium 3-deoxy-alpha-D-manno-2-octulopyranosylonate)-(2----4)-(sodium 3-deoxy-alpha-D-manno-2-octulopyranosylonate)-(2----6)-2-acetamido -2-deoxy- beta-D-glucopyranoside, and the tetrasaccharide allyl O-(sodium 3-deoxy-alpha-D-manno-2-octulopyranosylonate)-(2----8)-(sodium 3-deoxy-alpha-D-manno-2-octulopyranosylonate)-(2----4)-(sodium 3-deoxy-alpha-D-manno-2-octulopyranosylonate)-(2----6)-2-acetamido -2-deoxy- beta-D-glucopyranoside in high yield. Copolymerization of the allyl glycosides with acrylamide gave artificial polyvalent haptens suitable for defining epitope specificities of monoclonal antibodies directed against Chlamydia lipopolysaccharides.

The use of N-alkoxycarbonyl derivatives of 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucose as donors in glycosylation reactions

1,3,4,6-Tetra-O-acetyl-2-alkoxycarbonylamino-2-deoxy-beta-D-glu copyranoses and 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-alkoxycarbonylamino-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyra nosyl bromides have been used as donors in glycosylation reactions with model alcohols. beta-Glycosides were obtained in good yields and with a high degree of 1,2-trans stereoselectivity. An oxazolidinone was formed as the main product from the reaction of some of the glucopyranosyl bromides with alcohols of low reactivity, but the formation of all products could be interpreted by a strong participation of the alkoxycarbonylamino group.

1,3,4,6-Tetra-O-acetyl-2-chloroacetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranose as a glycosyl donor in syntheses of oligosaccharides

1,3,4,6-Tetra-O-acetyl-2-chloroacetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyran ose was tested as a glycosyl donor for oligosaccharide synthesis via a ferric chloride-catalyzed coupling reaction. Glycosyl acceptors tried (6 in all) were O-benzyl-protected D-galactosides having free OH groups at positions 3 and 4, respectively, and similarly protected glycosides of D-glucose and 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose unsubstituted on O-4. Existing syntheses of all the acceptors were improved, in four instances by exploitation of Garegg and Hultberg's cyanoborohydride procedure for the conversion 4,6-O-benzylidene----6- O-benzyl [Carbohydr. Res., 93 (1981) c10-c11; 108 (1982) 97-101]. Good to excellent yields of beta-linked disaccharides were obtained from the galactoside and glucoside acceptors, but with allyl 2-acetamido-3,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranoside, stereoselectivity was lost (alpha:beta-ratio 1:2). Allyl and benzyl 2-acetamido-3,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranosides gave, respectively, the allyl and benzyl beta-glycosides of the donor as major products. A mechanism is proposed for this transglycosidation reaction. The N-chloroacetyl groups in the disaccharide products were readily converted into N-acetyl by reduction with zinc-acetic acid.

Total synthesis of X hapten, III3 Fuc alpha-nLc4 Cer

Total synthesis of O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1----4)-O-[alpha-L- fucopyranosyl- (1----3)]-O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1----3)-O-beta- D- galactopyranosyl- (1----4)-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----1)-2-N-tetracosanoyl-(2S,3R ,4E)- sphingenine was achieved by use of the key glycosyl donors O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D- galactopyranosyl)-(1----4)-O-[(2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-alpha-L-fucopyranosyl) - (1----3)]-O-(2- acetamido-6-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1----3)-O-(2,4,6-tr i-O- acetyl- beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1----4)-2,3,6-tri-O-acetyl-alpha-D-glucopyrano syl trichloroacetimidate and fluoride, as well as key glycosyl acceptor 3-O-benzoyl-2-N-tetracosanoyl- (2S,3R,4E)-sphingenine, in an unambiguous manner.

Protected glycosides and disaccharides of 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranose by ferric chloride-catalyzed coupling

The ferric chloride-catalyzed glycosylation of hydroxy compounds by protected 2-acylamino-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranose 1-acetates is described. In addition to known glycosides from the reaction of alcohols with 2-acetamido-1,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranose (3), ally (and other alkyl) beta-glycosides were obtained from the N-benzoyl, N-phenoxyacetyl, N-methoxyacetyl, N-chloroacetyl, and N-phthaloyl congeners of 3. The latter compounds, except for the N-phthaloyl derivative, gave oxazolines in the absence of an alcoholic reactant. Compound 3 and the related N-benzoyl, N-chloroacetyl, N-acetyl-3,4,6-tri-O-benzyl, and N-acetyl-4-O-acetyl-3,6-di-O-benzyl derivatives were coupled to one or more protected sugars to form protected, beta-linked disaccharides. Coupling at the 6-positions of acceptors proceeded smoothly and gave 67-80% yields. For successful coupling at positions 3 and 4, long reaction times and multiple additions of glycosyl donor were required, and yields ranged from 60% to as low as 30%. 1,3,4,6-Tetra-O-acetyl-2-(chloroacetamido)-2-deoxy-beta-D- glucopyranose appeared to be the most reactive glycosyl donor in this series. The reaction of 2-methyl-(3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-1,2-dideoxy-alpha-D-glucopyrano)[2,1- d]-2-oxazoline (derived from 3) with allyl alcohol was catalyzed by ferric chloride, and oxazolines were detected as intermediates in some of the glycosylations of protected sugars.