Synthesis of a 1′-α-phenylselenouridine derivative as a synthetic precursor for various 1′-modified nucleosides, via enolization at the 1′-position of 3′,5′-O-TIPDS-2′-ketouridine

[Design, syntheses and properties of nucleic Acid switch in response to external stimuli]

The control of molecular properties using external stimuli is an attractive research area that offers the potential for regulation of various biological phenomena. This review summarizes the concept, design, syntheses and properties of nucleic acid switches in response to external stimuli, namely, "external-stimuli-responsive bridged nucleic acids monomer". From (1)H-NMR experiments, every external-stimuli-responsive bridged nucleic acid monomer was found to have an N-conformation, while an S-conformation was predominantly observed after exposure to a proper stimulus. Each bridged nucleic acid monomer was effectively introduced into oligodeoxynucleotides using an automated DNA synthesizer. Moreover, oligonucleotides modified with these bridged nucleic acid monomer were changed in their hybridization property and tolerance to enzymatic digestion in response to each stimulus. These results clearly showed that external-stimuli-responsive bridged nucleic acids monomers should work as a nucleic acid switch, and have the potential for regulation of various biological phenomena.

Stereoselective synthesis of 1'-functionalized-4'-thionucleosides

Stereoselective functionalization of the 1'-position of 4'-thionucleosides was achieved using a stereoselective S(N)2 reaction controlled by 5-membered ring coordination.

Stereoselective functionalization of the 1'-position of 4'-thionucleosides

Stereoselective synthesis of novel 1'-alpha-substituted-4'-thionucleosides was achieved starting from D-gulonic acid gamma-lactone via stereoselective nucleophilic substitution.

5-Exo versus 6-Endo Cyclization of Nucleoside 2-Sila-5-hexenyl Radicals: Reaction of 6-(Bromomethyl)dimethylsilyl 1‘,2‘-Unsaturated Uridines

The mode of cyclization of 2-sila-5-hexen-1-yl radicals generated from 6-(bromomethyl)dimethylsilyl-1',2'-unsaturated uridines was investigated. In contrast to the case of the 2'-unsubstituted 6-silicon-tethered substrate (4), which undergoes exclusive 6-endo-cyclization, reactions of the 2'-substituted (Me, CO2Me, OBz, and Cl) derivatives (14, 20, 22, and 24) uniformly proceeded in preferential or exclusive 5-exo-mode. The Tamao oxidation of the resulting cyclized products was also carried out to synthesize the corresponding 1'-C-hydroxymethyl derivatives.

A highly stereoselective samarium diiodide-promoted aldol reaction with 1'-phenylseleno-2'-keto nucleosides. Synthesis of 1'alpha-branched uridine derivatives

Since 1'-branched nucleosides are biologically important targets in medicinal chemistry, more efficient methods for preparing them are required. The 1'alpha-branched uridine derivatives were successfully synthesized via a samarium diiodide (SmI(2))-promoted aldol reaction. Treatment of the 1'alpha-phenylseleno-2'-ketouridine derivative 6, readily prepared from uridine, with SmI(2) at -78 degrees C in THF reductively cleaved the anomeric Se-C bond to generate the corresponding samarium enolate, which was highly stereoselectively condensed with aldehydes, such as PhCHO, MeCHO, i-PrCHO, or (CH(2)O)(n)(), to give the corresponding 1'alpha-1' 'S-branched products 12a-d. This is the first time an enolate has been generated by reductively cleaving a C-Se bond. The highly selective stereochemical results suggest that the aldol reaction proceeds via a chelation-controlled transition state. When an excess of aldehyde was used and the reaction mixture was gradually warmed, the tandem aldol-Tishchenko reaction proceeded to give the "arabino-type" nucleosides 14a-c, having a 2'-"up" hydroxyl and 1'alpha-1' 'S-branched chain. 1'alpha-Hydroxymethyluridine (21), which is the uracil version of the antitumor antibiotic angustmycin C, was synthesized from the aldol reaction product 10.

An efficient method for the preparation of 1'alpha-branched-chain sugar pyrimidine ribonucleosides from uridine: the first conversion of a natural nucleoside into 1'-substituted ribonucleosides

The 1'alpha-phenylselenouridine derivative 13 was successfully synthesized by enolization of the 3',5'-O-TIPDS-2'-ketouridine 8, and was subjected to a radical reaction with a vinylsilyl tether--an efficient procedure for preparing 1'alpha-branched-chain sugar pyrimidine nucleosides. Successive treatment of 8 with LiHMDS and PhSeCl in THF at < -70 degrees C gave the desired 1'-phenylseleno products in 85% yield as an anomeric mixture of the 1'alpha-product 11 and the 1'beta-product 12 (11/12= 2.5:1). Highly stereoselective reduction at the 2'-carbonyl of the 1'alpha-product 11 occurred from the beta-face by using NaBH4/CeCl3 in MeOH, and subsequent introduction of a dimethylvinylsilyl tether at the 2'-hydroxyl gave the radical reaction substrate 14. The photochemical radical atom-transfer reaction of 14 by using a high-pressure mercury lamp proceeded effectively in benzene to give the exo-cyclized PhSe-transferred product 18, in which (PhSe)2 proved to be essential as an additive for radical atom-transfer cyclization reactions. Subsequent phenylseleno-group elimination of 18 gave the sugar-protected 1'alpha-vinyluridine. With this procedure, 1'alpha-vinyluridine (22) and -cytidine (25), designed to be potential antitumor agents, were successfully synthesized. This study is the first example of functionalization at the anomeric 1'-position of a nucleoside by starting from a natural nucleoside to produce a ribo-type 1'-modified nucleoside.