SAR directed design and synthesis of novel beta(1-4)-glucosyltransferase inhibitors and their in vitro inhibition studies

Non-isosteric C-glycosyl analogues of natural nucleotide diphosphate sugars as glycosyltransferase inhibitors

A series of C-glycosyl ethylphosphonophosphate analogues of UDP-Glc, UDP-Gal, UDP-GlcNAc and GDP-Fuc were synthesized from the corresponding C-glycosyl ethylphosphonic acids. Analogues were obtained as alpha-anomers through either diastereoselective photo-induced radical addition of glycosyl bromides (D-Glc, D-Gal and L-Fuc) to diethyl vinylphosphonate, or a multi-step sequence (D-GlcNAc), with subsequent coupling with morpholidate-activated nucleotide monophosphates. The in vitro inhibitory activity of UDP-Gal, GDP-Fuc and UDP-GlcNAc analogues towards glycosyltransferases (beta-1,4-GalT, FUT3 and LgtA) was evaluated through a competition fluorescence assay and IC(50) values of 40 microM, 2 mM and 3.5 mM were obtained, respectively.

Synthesis of thioglycoside-based UDP-sugar analogues

Arbuzov reaction of O-acetyl-protected glycosylthiomethyl chlorides with triethyl phosphite and then phosphonate ethyl ester cleavage with trimethylsilyl bromide afforded glycosylthiomethyl phosphonates 13, 18, 22, and 26. These intermediates could be readily transformed into the O-deprotected phosphonates 7-10 and into title compounds 1-4. Similarly, sulfonomethyl phosphonate moieties containing UDP-sugar analogues 5 and 6 were obtained.