Simple approach to O-protected deaminotunicaminyluracil

4-epi-Isofagomine derivatives as pharmacological chaperones for the treatment of lysosomal diseases linked to β-galactosidase mutations: Improved synthesis and biological investigations

(5aR)-5a-C-pentyl-4-epi-isofagomine 1 is a powerful inhibitor of lysosomal β-galactosidase and a remarkable chaperone for mutations associated with GM1-gangliosidosis and Morquio disease type B. We report herein an improved synthesis of this compound and analogs (5a-C-methyl, pentyl, nonyl and phenylethyl derivatives), and a crystal structure of a synthetic intermediate that confirms its configuration resulting from the addition of a Grignard reagent. These compounds were evaluated as glycosidase inhibitors and their potential as chaperones for mutant lysosomal galactosidases determined. Based on these results and on docking studies, the 5-C-pentyl derivative 1 was selected as the optimal structure for further investigations: this compound induces the maturation of mutated β-galactosidase in fibroblasts of a GM1-gangliosidosis patient and promote the decrease of keratan sulfate and oligosaccharide load in patient cells. Compound 1 is clearly capable of restoring β-galactosidase activity and of promoting maturation of the protein, which should result in significant clinical benefit. These properties strongly support the development of compound 1 for the treatment of GM1-gangliosidosis and Morquio disease type B patients harboring β-galactosidase mutations sensitive to pharmacological chaperoning.

Synthesis of tunicaminyluracil derivatives

A tunicaminyluracil derivative, which is a key component of the tunicamycin nucleoside antibiotics, was synthesized using a samarium diiodide (SmI2) mediated aldol reaction and intramolecular Pummerer reaction as the key steps. The alpha-phenylthio ketone 11, the precursor of the samarium enolate, was prepared from D-galactose. Treatment of 11 with SmI2 at -40 degrees C resulted in complete conversion to the corresponding samarium enolate, and subsequent addition of uridine 5'-aldehyde 12 afforded the desired aldol products 13a,b. Compound 13a was converted to the sulfoxide 15 by a sequential diastereoselective reduction of the ketone and an oxidation with mCPBA. Activation of 15 with Tf2O provided the desired cyclized compound 17. In this reaction, the aldol product 13a was also obtained as a consequence of a competitive intramolecular version of DMSO-oxidation via a 7-membered ring intermediate. Compound 18 or 19 are ready for use as a glycosyl donor in glycosylations to provide a range of analogues as potential glycosyltransferase inhibitors as well as related natural products.

Stereoselective syntheses of the O,N-protected subunits of the tunicamycins

The synthesis of the title compounds is described, i.e. coupling of the ylide, generated from the iodophosphonium salt of protected N-phthaloyl-D-galactosamine with 2,3-O-isopropylidene D-ribo-aldehyde afforded an undecose in high yield. Hydroboration-oxidation reaction of the olefinic linkage in the undecose led to the desired tunicamine, as the predominant product. After conversion of the latter to a glycosyl acceptor, this was assembled with the fully protected 2-oxyimino-2-deoxy-alpha-D-arabino-hexopyranosyl bromide, leading to a trehalose-type alpha, beta-disaccharide.