Chemistry and developments of fluorinated carbohydrates

The Synthesis and Glycoside Formation of Polyfluorinated Carbohydrates

Fluorinated carbohydrates have found many applications in the glycosciences. Typically, these contain fluorination at a single position. There are not many applications involving polyfluorinated carbohydrates, here defined as monosaccharides in which more than one carbon has at least one fluorine substituent directly attached to it, with the notable exception of their use as mechanism-based inhibitors. The increasing attention to carbohydrate physical properties, especially around lipophilicity, has resulted in a surge of interest for this class of compounds. This review covers the considerable body of work toward the synthesis of polyfluorinated hexoses, pentoses, ketosugars, and aminosugars including sialic acids and nucleosides. An overview of the current state of the art of their glycosidation is also provided.

Small, but powerful and attractive: 19F in biomolecular NMR

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a versatile tool for probing structure, dynamics, folding, and interactions at atomic resolution. While naturally occurring magnetically active isotopes, such as ¹H, ¹³C, or ¹⁵N, are most commonly used in biomolecular NMR, with ¹⁵N and ¹³C isotopic labeling routinely employed at the present time, ¹⁹F is a very attractive and sensitive alternative nucleus, which offers rich information on biomolecules in solution and in the solid state. This perspective summarizes the unique benefits of solution and solid-state ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy for the study of biological systems. Particular focus is on the most recent studies and on future unique and important potential applications of fluorine NMR methodology.

The crystal structures of 3-O-benzyl-1,2-O-iso-propyl-idene-5-O-methane-sulfonyl-6-O-tri-phenyl-methyl-α-d-gluco-furan-ose and its azide displacement product

The effect of different leaving groups on the substitution versus elimination outcomes with C-5 d-glucose derivatives was investigated. The stereochemical configurations of 3-O-benzyl-1,2-O-iso-propyl-idene-5-O-methane-sulfonyl-6-O-tri-phenyl-methyl-α-d-gluco-furan-ose, C36H38O8S (3) [systematic name: 1-[(3aR,5R,6S,6aR)-6-benz-yloxy-2,2-di-methyl-tetra-hydro-furo[2,3-d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl)-2-(trit-yloxy)ethyl methane-sulfonate], a stable inter-mediate, and 5-azido-3-O-benzyl-5-de-oxy-1,2-O-iso-propyl-idene-6-O-tri-phenyl-methyl-β-l-ido-furan-ose, C35H35N3O5 (4) [systematic name: (3aR,5S,6S,6aR)-5-[1-azido-2-(trit-yloxy)eth-yl]-6-benz-yloxy-2,2-di-methyl-tetra-hydro-furo[2,3-d][1,3]dioxole], a substitution product, were examined and the inversion of configuration for the azido group on C-5 in 4 was confirmed. The absolute structures of the mol-ecules in the crystals of both compounds were confirmed by resonant scattering. In the crystal of 3, neighbouring mol-ecules are linked by C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming chains along the b-axis direction. The chains are linked by C-H⋯π inter-actions, forming layers parallel to the ab plane. In the crystal of 4, mol-ecules are also linked by C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming this time helices along the a-axis direction. The helices are linked by a number of C-H⋯π inter-actions, forming a supra-molecular framework.

5-Fluoro derivatives of 4-epi-isofagomine as D-galactosidase inhibitors and potential pharmacological chaperones for GM1-gangliosidosis as well as Fabry's disease

Electrophilic fluorination of an exocyclic methoxymethylene enol ether derived from N-tert-butyloxycarbonyl-1,5-dideoxy-1,5-imino-3,4-O-isopropylidene-D-erythro-pent-2-ulose (11) provided the 5-fluoro derivative of the powerful β-galactosidase inhibitor 4-epi-isofagomine (8). This structural alteration, in combination with N-alkylation, led to considerably improved α-galactosidase selectivity. New compounds may serve as leads en route to new pharmacological chaperones for Fabry's disease.

Synthesis, evaluation and molecular docking studies of amino acid derived N-glycoconjugates as antibacterial agents

Six amino acid derived N-glycoconjugates of d-glucose were synthesized, characterized and tested for antibacterial activity against G(+)ve (Bacillus cereus) as well as G(-)ve (Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae) bacterial strains. All the tested compounds exhibited moderate to good antibacterial activity against these bacterial strains. The results were compared with the antibacterial activity of standard drug Chloramphenicol, where results of A5 (Tryptophan derived glycoconjugates) against E. coli and A4 (Isoleucine derived glycoconjugates) against K. pneumoniae bacterial strains are comparable with the standard drug molecule. In silico docking studies were also performed in order to understand the mode of action and binding interactions of these molecules. The docking studies revealed that, occupation of compound A5 at the ATP binding site of subunit GyrB (DNA gyrase, PDB ID: 3TTZ) via hydrophobic and hydrogen bonding interactions may be the reason for its significant in vitro antibacterial activity.

Multigramme synthesis and asymmetric dihydroxylation of a 4-fluorobut-2E-enoate

Esters of crotonic acid were brominated on a multigramme scale using a free radical procedure. A phase transfer catalysed fluorination transformed these species to the 4-fluorobut-2E-enoates reproducibly and at scale (48-53%, ca. 300 mmol). Asymmetric dihydroxylation reactions were then used to transform the butenoate, ultimately into all four diastereoisomers of a versatile fluorinated C4 building block at high enantiomeric-enrichment. The (DHQ)2AQN and (DHQD)2AQN ligands described by Sharpless were the most effective. The development and optimisation of a new and facile method for the determination of ee is also described; (19)F{(1)H} spectra recorded in d-chloroform/diisopropyl tartrate showed distinct baseline separated signals for different enantiomers.

Influenza neuraminidase operates via a nucleophilic mechanism and can be targeted by covalent inhibitors

Development of novel influenza neuraminidase inhibitors is critical for preparedness against influenza outbreaks. Knowledge of the neuraminidase enzymatic mechanism and transition-state analogue, 2-deoxy-2,3-didehydro-N-acetylneuraminic acid, contributed to the development of the first generation anti-neuraminidase drugs, zanamivir and oseltamivir. However, lack of evidence regarding influenza neuraminidase key catalytic residues has limited strategies for novel neuraminidase inhibitor design. Here, we confirm that influenza neuraminidase conserved Tyr406 is the key catalytic residue that may function as a nucleophile; thus, mechanism-based covalent inhibition of influenza neuraminidase was conceived. Crystallographic studies reveal that 2α,3ax-difluoro-N-acetylneuraminic acid forms a covalent bond with influenza neuraminidase Tyr406 and the compound was found to possess potent anti-influenza activity against both influenza A and B viruses. Our results address many unanswered questions about the influenza neuraminidase catalytic mechanism and demonstrate that covalent inhibition of influenza neuraminidase is a promising and novel strategy for the development of next-generation influenza drugs.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of prodrugs of 2-fluoro-2-deoxyribose-1-phosphate and 2,2-difluoro-2-deoxyribose-1-phosphate

We report in this Letter the synthesis of prodrugs of 2-fluoro-2-deoxyarabinose-1-phosphate and 2,2-difluoro-2-deoxyribose-1-phosphate. We demonstrate the difficulty of realising a phosphorylation step on the anomeric position of 2-deoxyribose, and we discover that introduction of fluorine atoms on the 2 position of 2-deoxyribose enables the phosphorylation step: in fact, the stability of the prodrugs increases with the degree of 2-fluorination. Stability studies of produgs of 2-fluoro-2-deoxyribose-1-phosphate and 2,2-difluoro-2-deoxyribose-1-phosphate in acidic and neutral conditions were conducted to confirm our observation. Biological evaluation of prodrugs of 2,2-difluoro-2-deoxyribose-1-phosphate for antiviral and cytotoxic activity is reported.

Structure-activity relationships of C-17-substituted estratriene-3-O-sulfamates as anticancer agents

The synthesis and antiproliferative activities of analogues of 2-substituted estradiol-3,17-O,O-bis-sulfamates (E2bisMATEs) are discussed. Modifications of the C-17 substituent confirm that an H-bond acceptor is essential for high activity; its optimal linkage to C-17 and the local environment in which it resides are defined. In the non-sulfamoylated series 17β-acyl substitution delivers 48b, the most potent compound identified to date. In the sulfamate series a number of permutations of linker and H-bond acceptor deliver excellent activity, with 55, 61, 65, 49a, and 49b proving especially promising. The in vivo potential of these compounds was explored in the NCI hollow fiber assay and also in a mouse Matrigel model of antiangiogenesis in which 49 and 55 show significant inhibitory activity.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of 2'-deoxy-2',2'-difluoro-5-halouridine phosphoramidate ProTides

We report the synthesis of a series of novel 2′-deoxy-2′,2′-difluoro-5-halouridines and their corresponding phosphoramidate ProTides. All compounds were evaluated for antiviral activity and for cellular toxicity. Interestingly, 2′-deoxy-2′,2′-difluoro-5-iodo- and -5-bromo-uridines showed selective activity against feline herpes virus replication in cell culture due to a specific recognition (activation) by the virus-encoded thymidine kinase.

The conformation of tetrafluorinated methyl galactoside anomers: crystallographic and NMR studies

The first single-crystal X-ray diffraction study of tetrafluorinated monosaccharide derivatives is presented. Both α- and β-methyl 2,3-dideoxy-2,2,3,3-tetrafluoro-d-galactopyranoside anomers adopt the (4)C(1) conformation. The values for the C1-O1 and C1-O5 bond lengths and the O5-C1-O1-CH(3) dihedral angles are in line with what can be expected from the anomeric and exo-anomeric effects. The chair conformations are slightly distorted, presumably due to repulsion between 1,3-diaxial C-O and C-F bonds. The asymmetric unit of both compounds contains up to three independent molecules, which differ in the conformation of the hydroxymethyl group (including in one case a 'forbidden'gg rotamer). The molecular packing of the β-anomer shows a clear segregation between fluorinated and hydrophilic domains, while for the α-anomer the regions of fluorine segregation are broken by interleafing of OMe groups. There is one close OH⋯F contact, which is likely to arise from the crystal packing. NMR studies show that the two anomers also adopt a (4)C(1) conformation in solution (D(2)O, CDCl(3)).

Regulation of heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis by 4-fluoro-glucosamine in murine airway smooth muscle cells

The importance of the pathological changes in proteoglycans has driven the need to study and design novel chemical tools to control proteoglycan synthesis. Accordingly, we tested the fluorinated analogue of glucosamine (4-fluoro-N-acetyl-glucosamine (4-F-GlcNAc)) on the synthesis of heparan sulfate (HS) and chondroitin sulfate (CS) by murine airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells in the presence of radiolabeled metabolic precursors. Secreted and cell-associated CS and HS were assessed for changes in size by Superose 6 chromatography. Treatment of ASM cells with 4-F-GlcNAc (100 microM) reduced the quantity (by 64.1-76.6%) and decreased the size of HS/CS glycosaminoglycans associated with the cell layer (K(av) shifted from 0.30 to 0.45). The quantity of CS secreted into the medium decreased by 65.7-73.0%, and the size showed a K(av) shift from 0.30 to 0.50. Treatment of ASM cells with 45 microM and 179 microM 4-F-GlcNAc in the presence of a stimulator of CS synthesis, 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-xyloside, reduced the amount of the xyloside-CS chains by 65.4 and 87.0%, respectively. The size of xyloside-CS chains synthesized in the presence of 4-F-GlcNAc were only slightly larger than those with xyloside treatment alone (K(av) of 0.55 compared with that of 0.6). The effects of 4-F-GlcNAc to inhibit CS synthesis were not observed with equimolar concentrations of glucosamine. We propose that 4-F-GlcNAc inhibits CS synthesis by inhibiting 4-epimerization of UDP-GlcNAc to UDP-GalNAc, thereby depleting one of the substrates required, whereas HS elongation is inhibited by truncation when the nonreducing terminus of the growing chain is capped with 4-F-GlcNAc.

[A short path to synthesis of 4-deoxy-4-fluoroglucosaminides: methylumbelliferyl N-acetyl-4-deoxy-4-fluoro-beta-D-glucosaminide]

A convenient method of synthesis of 1,6-anhydro-4-deoxy-2-O-tosyl-4-fluoro-beta-D-glucopyranose by fusion of 1,6;3,4-dianhydro-2-O-tosyl-beta-D-galactopyranose with 2,4,6-trimethylpyridinium fluoride was found. By successive action of ammonia, methyl trifluoroacetate, and acetic anhydride, the resulting compound was transformed into 1,6-anhydro-3-O-acetyl-2,4-dideoxy-2-trifluoroacetamido-4-fluoro-beta-D-glucopyranose, which was converted into 3,6-di-O-acetyl-2,4-dideoxy-2-trifluoroacetamido-4-fluoro-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl fluoride by the reaction with HF/Py. The resulting fluoride was further used as a glycosyl donor in the synthesis of methylumbelliferyl N-acetyl-4-deoxy-4-fluoro-beta-D-glucosaminide.

Unsaturated fluoro-ketopyranosyl nucleosides: Synthesis and biological evaluation of 3-fluoro-4-keto-β-d-glucopyranosyl derivatives of N4-benzoyl cytosine and N6-benzoyl adenine

The protected beta-nucleosides 1-(2,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-3-deoxy-3-fluoro-beta-d-glucopyranosyl)-N(4)-benzoyl cytosine (2a) and 9-(2,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-3-deoxy-3-fluoro-beta-d-glucopyranosyl)-N(6)-benzoyl adenine (2b), were synthesized by the coupling of peracetylated 3-deoxy-3-fluoro-d-glucopyranose (1) with silylated N(4)-benzoyl cytosine and N(6)-benzoyl adenine, respectively. The nucleosides were deacetylated and several subsequent protection and deprotection steps afforded the partially acetylated nucleosides of cytosine 7a and adenine 7b, respectively. Finally, direct oxidation of the free hydroxyl group at 4'-position of 7a and 7b, and simultaneous elimination reaction of the beta-acetoxyl group, afforded the desired unsaturated 3-fluoro-4-keto-beta-d-glucopyranosyl derivatives. These newly synthesized compounds were evaluated for their potential antitumor and antiviral activities. Compared to 5FU, the newly synthesized derivatives showed to be more efficient as antitumor growth inhibitors and they exhibited direct antiviral effect toward rotavirus.

Synthesis of furanosyl α-C-glycosides derived from 4-chloro-4-deoxy-α-d-galactose and their cytotoxic activities

Condensation of a new unnatural sugar 1 with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds in the presence of anhydrous zinc chloride gave the polyhydroxyalkyl-furans in excellent yields. Further modification afforded the corresponding furanosyl alpha-C-glycoside derivatives. The absolute configuration of 3-acetyl-2-methyl-5-(2'-chloro-D-galacto-tetritol-1-yl)-furan was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray analysis. The in vitro cytotoxic activities of these furanosyl C-glycosides were also investigated.

Chlorodifluoromethyl-substituted monosaccharide derivatives—radical activation of the carbon–chlorine-bond

The dithionite-mediated addition of BrCF(2)Cl to 3,4-di-O-pivaloyl-D-xylal (1) generated preferably 1-CF(2)Cl-substituted products, that is, (2-bromo-2-deoxy-3,4-di-O-pivaloyl-beta-D-xylopyranosyl)-chlorodifluoromethane and (2-deoxy-3,4-di-O-pivaloyl-beta-D-threo-pentopyranosyl)-chlorodifluoromethane. Selected chlorodifluoromethyl-substituted monosaccharide derivatives were hydrodechlorinated or alkylated at the CF(2)Cl-group using tin reagents under radical reaction conditions. Thus, hydrodechlorinations of (2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-6-deoxy-alpha-L-galactopyranosyl)-chlorodifluoromethane and of methyl 3,4-di-O-acetyl-2-C-chlorodifluoromethyl-2,6-dideoxy-alpha/beta-L-glucopyranoside are reported using tri-n-butyltin hydride initiated by AIBN. UV-initiated allylations are reported for reactions of (2-deoxy-3,4-di-O-pivaloyl-beta-D-threo-pentopyranosyl)-chlorodifluoromethane, (2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-6-deoxy-alpha-L-galactopyranosyl)-chlorodifluoromethane, 1,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-2-C-chlorodifluoromethyl-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranose, 1,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-2-C-chlorodifluoromethyl-2-deoxy-alpha-D-mannopyranose and methyl 3,4-di-O-acetyl-2-C-chlorodifluoromethyl-2-deoxy-alpha/beta-D-rabinopyranoside with allyltri-n-butyltin.

Fluorinated acyclo-C-nucleoside analogues from glycals in two steps

A convenient two-step strategy is reported for the synthesis of fluorinated optically pure acyclo-C-nucleoside analogues starting from simple glycals. In the first step, benzyl- or p-methoxybenzyl-protected glycals are treated with trifluoroacetic anhydride, bromodifluoroacetyl chloride, trichloroacetyl chloride, and perfluorooctanoyl chloride, respectively, in the presence of Et3N. This one-pot procedure yields 1,2-unsaturated sugars (1,5-anhydro-3,4,6-tri-O-benzyl (or p-methoxybenzyl) 2-deoxy-2-perhalogenoacyl-D-arabino / lyxo-hex-1-enitols 4-9) acylated at C-2. In the second step, a selective ring transformation is induced by treatment of the C-acylated glycals with bis-nucleophiles (hydrazine, phenylhydrazine, o-phenylenediamine, hydroxylamine). In particular, 1,5-anhydro-3,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-2-trifluoroacetyl-D-arabino-hex-1-enitol (4) and 1,5-anhydro-2-deoxy-2-trifluoroacetyl-3,4,6-tri-O-(p-methoxybenzyl)-D-arabino-hex-1-enitol (8) were reacted with these nucleophiles generating the final C-nucleoside analogues of pyrazole (10, 11, and 12), diazepine (13), and isoxazole (15), respectively, containing a carbohydrate side chain linked to the heterocyclic ring.

Two-step regio- and stereoselective syntheses of [19F]- and [18F]-2-deoxy-2-(R)-fluoro-β-d-allose

Replacement of specific hydroxyl groups by fluorine in carbohydrates is an ongoing challenge from chemical, biological, and pharmaceutical points of view. A rapid and efficient two-step, regio- and stereoselective synthesis of 2-deoxy-2-(R)-fluoro-beta-d-allose (2-(R)-fluoro-2-deoxy-beta-d-allose; 2-FDbetaA), a fluorinated analogue of the rare sugar, d-allose, is described. TAG (3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-1,5-anhydro-2-deoxy-d-arabino-hex-1-enitol or 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-d-glucal), was fluorinated in anhydrous HF with dilute F(2) in a Ne/He mixture or with CH(3)COOF at -60 degrees C. The fluorinated intermediate was hydrolyzed in 1N HCl and the hydrolysis product was purified by liquid chromatography and characterized by 1D (1)H, (13)C, and (19)F NMR spectroscopy as well as 2D NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. In addition, (18)F-labeled 2-deoxy-2-(R)-fluoro-beta-d-allose (2-[(18)F]FDbetaA) was synthesized for the first time, with an overall decay-corrected radiochemical yield of 33+/-3% with respect to [(18)F]F(2), the highest radiochemical yield achieved to date for electrophilic fluorination of TAG. The rapid and high radiochemical yield synthesis of 2-[(18)F]FDbetaA has potential as a probe for the bioactivity of d-allose.

Towards the synthesis of aryl glucuronides as potential heparanase probes. An interesting outcome in the glycosidation of glucuronic acid with 4-hydroxycinnamic acid

This work describes our preliminary efforts towards the development of aryl glucuronides as potential probes for heparanase. During the course of these initial investigations, attempted glycosidation of methyl 2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyluronate trichloroacetimidate with 4-hydroxycinnamic acid gave a complex mixture of four different components. These were identified as the 1-cinnamyl glucuronate ester 13, the cinnamyl linked disaccharide 14, the glucuronate trichloroacetamide 15, and the glucuronyl alpha-fluoride 16. This paper rationalises the formation of each of these products, and reports our efforts in trying to optimise the formation of the alpha-fluoride 16.

Synthesis of 2,3- or 1,2-unsaturated derivatives of 2-deoxy-2-trifluoromethylhexopyranoses

The attempted conversion, by treatment with CsF/TBFA in MeCN, of acetylated derivatives of 2-chlorodifluoromethyl-2-deoxyhexopyranoses into their corresponding 2-trifluoromethyl derivatives was always accompanied by an elimination reaction. Thus, representative educts with the D-gluco- and D-manno-configuration gave derivatives of 2,3-dideoxy-2-trifluoromethyl-D-erythro-hex-2-enopyranose and 1,5-anhydro-2-deoxy-2-trifluoromethyl-d-arabino-hex-1-enitol, respectively. X-ray analyses are given for 1,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-2-chlorodifluoromethyl-2-deoxy-alpha-D-mannopyranose and 4,6-di-O-acetyl-2,3-dideoxy-2-trifluoromethyl-alpha-D-erythro-hex-2-enopyranose.

2β,3β-Difluorosialic acid derivatives structurally modified at the C-4 position: synthesis and biological evaluation as inhibitors of human parainfluenza virus type 1

A series of 4-O-substituted 2beta,3beta-difluorosialic acid derivatives (3a-d) has been synthesized. A key intermediate was synthesized efficiently by the electrophilic syn-addition of fluorine to the double bond of a glycal precursor using molecular fluorine or xenon difluoride in the presence of BF(3).OEt(2). Among compounds 3a-d, the 4-O-thiocarbamoylmethyl derivative 3c showed the most potent inhibitory activity against sialidase of human parainfluenza virus type 1. [structure: see text].

Utilization of nosylepimines of 1,6-anhydro-β-d-hexopyranoses for the preparation of halogenated aminosaccharides

The aziridine ring cleavage of N-nosylepimines 3 and 7 having D-allo and D-manno configurations with halides led regioselectively to N-o-nitrobenzenesulfonylated 2-halo-3-amino- and 3-halo-2-amino-2,3-dideoxy derivatives of 1,6-anhydro-beta-D-glucopyranose 8-14 in 59-81% yields. Removal of o-nitrobenzenesulfonyl protecting group with benzenethiol afforded aminosaccharides, which were converted into more stable hydrochlorides 15-18.

3-Deoxy-3,3-difluoro-d-arabinofuranose: First Stereoselective Synthesis and Application in Preparation of gem-Difluorinated Sugar Nucleosides

The design and synthesis of gem-difluorinated sugar nucleosides were described. The key intermediate, 3-deoxy-3,3-difluoro-d-arabinofuranose 9, was first stereoselectively prepared from the chiral gem-difluorohomoallyl alcohol 12. The kinetic formation of single anti-14 in the benzylation of 12 could be accomplished by controlling the amount of sodium hydride used. The dihydroxylation of 14 (a mixture of anti and syn isomers) followed by deprotection and oxidation stereoselectively afforded furanose 9 with the arabino configuration at the C2 position. N(1)-(3-Deoxy-3,3-difluoro-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl)cytosine 6 was prepared from 9 by the glycosylation reaction. 4'-Thiofuranose 25 was easily synthesized from 9. The oxidation of 25 followed by the condensation with silylated N(4)-benzoylcytosine (Pummerer reaction) failed to give our desired protected nucleoside l-3'-deoxy-3',3'-difluoro- 4'-thiocytidine 27', but the regioisomer 27 was obtained. The regiochemistry of the Pummerer reaction was determined by the kinetic acidity of the alpha-proton of 4'-thiofuranose 25.

Importance of specific hydrogen-bond donor-acceptor interactions for the key carbocycle-forming reaction catalyzed by 2-deoxy-scyllo-inosose synthase in the biosynthesis of 2-deoxystreptamine-containing aminocyclitol antibiotics

A crucial enzyme in the biosynthesis of the 2-deoxystreptamine aglycon of clinically important aminocyclitol antibiotics is 2-deoxy-scyllo-inosose synthase (DOIS), which converts ubiquitous D-glucose 6-phosphate (G-6-P) into the specific carbocycle 2-deoxy-scyllo-inosose. Among all the oxygenated carbons of the substrate, C-1, -4, -5, and -6 are directly involved in the chemical transformation. To get insight into the roles of C-2 and C-3 hydroxy groups, 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-, 3-deoxy-3-fluoro-, 2-amino-2-deoxy-, and 3-amino-3-deoxy-D-glucose 6-phosphates (2-F-G-6-P, 3-F-G-6-P, 2-NH(2)-G-6-P, and 3-NH(2)-G-6-P, respectively) were subjected to the DOIS reaction as probe, since a fluorine substituent generally acts as a hydrogen-bond acceptor, and an ammonium functionality derived physiologically from an amino group as a hydrogen-bond donor. Among those tested, 2-F-G-6-P and 3-NH(2)-G-6-P were used as substrates by DOIS and were converted into the corresponding deoxyfluoro- and aminodeoxy-scyllo-inososes, respectively. In contrast, 3-F-G-6-P and 2-NH(2)-G-6-P were inactive in the cyclization reaction. Clearly, DOIS recognizes the G-6-P substrate through specific hydrogen-bonding interactions, i.e., through a hydrogen-donating group for C-2 and an accepting group for C-3 of the substrate. Modeling of DOIS based on the structure of evolutionary-related dehydroquinate synthase is also described.

Synthesis of 2',3'-Dideoxy-2'-trifluoromethyl-N-azanucleosides

The trifluoromethylation of (Z)/(E)-tert-butyl (4S)-4-(2'-ethoxycarbonyl-2'-bromoprop-1'-enyl)-2,2-dimethyloxazolidine-3-carboxylate (4), which is derived from chiral serine aldehyde, yields α-trifluoromethyl-α,β-unsaturated ester 1. Compound 1 is used as a key intermediate for the synthesis of a number of 2',3'-dideoxy-2'-trifluoromethyl-N-azanucleosides.