Mechanisms of Glycosylation Reactions Studied by Low-Temperature Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

Influence of remote carbamate protective groups on the β-selectivity in rhamnosylations

In this work, we present the synthesis of a series of L-thiorhamnosyl donors containing O-carbamate protective groups and the study of their influence on the selectivity in rhamnosylations. It is found that a carbamate on the C-4 position increased the β selectivity compared with carbamates on the C2 or C3 positions, respectively, and when no carbamate group was installed. In addition it is found that the observed β selectivity was greater when the 4-O carbamate had less electron withdrawing groups on the nitrogen. The influence of using triflic acid catalysis was studied as well and it was found to lower the β-selectivity. In addition a new efficient one step synthesis of selectively 2,4-O-benzylated rhamnosides was established using phase transfer catalysis.

Parametric Analysis of Donor Activation for Glycosylation Reactions

The chemical synthesis of complex oligosaccharides relies on efficient and highly reproducible glycosylation reactions. The outcome of a glycosylation is contingent upon several environmental factors, such as temperature, acidity, the presence of residual moisture, as well as the steric, electronic, and conformational aspects of the reactants. Each glycosylation proceeds rapidly and with a high yield within a rather narrow temperature range. For better control over glycosylations and to ensure fast and reliable reactions, a systematic analysis of 18 glycosyl donors revealed the effect of reagent concentration, water content, protecting groups, and structure of the glycosyl donors on the activation temperature. With these insights, we parametrize the first step of the glycosylation reaction to be executed reliably and efficiently.

Anomeric Triflates versus Dioxanium Ions: Different Product-Forming Intermediates from 3-Acyl Benzylidene Mannosyl and Glucosyl Donors

Minimal structural differences in the structure of glycosyl donors can have a tremendous impact on their reactivity and the stereochemical outcome of their glycosylation reactions. Here, we used a combination of systematic glycosylation reactions, the characterization of potential reactive intermediates, and in-depth computational studies to study the disparate behavior of glycosylation systems involving benzylidene glucosyl and mannosyl donors. While these systems have been studied extensively, no satisfactory explanations are available for the differences observed between the 3-O-benzyl/benzoyl mannose and glucose donor systems. The potential energy surfaces of the different reaction pathways available for these donors provide an explanation for the contrasting behavior of seemingly very similar systems. Evidence has been provided for the intermediacy of benzylidene mannosyl 1,3-dioxanium ions, while the formation of the analogous 1,3-glucosyl dioxanium ions is thwarted by a prohibitively strong flagpole interaction of the C-2-O-benzyl group with the C-5 proton in moving toward the transition state, in which the glucose ring adopts a B2,5-conformation. This study provides an explanation for the intermediacy of 1,3-dioxanium ions in the mannosyl system and an answer to why these do not form from analogous glucosyl donors.

Detection and Characterization of Rapidly Equilibrating Glycosylation Reaction Intermediates Using Exchange NMR

The stereoselective introduction of glycosidic bonds (glycosylation) is one of the main challenges in the chemical synthesis of carbohydrates. Glycosylation reaction mechanisms are difficult to control because, in many cases, the exact reactive species driving product formation cannot be detected and the product outcome cannot be explained by the primary reaction intermediate observed. In these cases, reactions are expected to take place via other low-abundance reaction intermediates that are in rapid equilibrium with the primary reaction intermediate via a Curtin-Hammett scenario. Despite this principle being well-known in organic synthesis, mechanistic studies investigating this model in glycosylation reactions are complicated by the challenge of detecting the extremely short-lived reactive species responsible for product formation. Herein, we report the utilization of the chemical equilibrium between low-abundance reaction intermediates and the stable, readily observed α-glycosyl triflate intermediate in order to infer the structure of the former species by employing exchange NMR. Using this technique, we enabled the detection of reaction intermediates such as β-glycosyl triflates and glycosyl dioxanium ions. This demonstrates the power of exchange NMR to unravel reaction mechanisms as we aim to build a catalog of kinetic parameters, allowing for the understanding and eventual prediction of glycosylation reactions.

Chemical approaches for the stereocontrolled synthesis of 1,2-cis-β-D-rhamnosides

In carbohydrate chemistry, the stereoselective synthesis of 1,2-cis-glycosides remains a formidable challenge. This complexity is comparable to the synthesis of 1,2-cis-β-D-mannosides, primarily due to the adverse anomeric and Δ-2 effects. Over the past decades, to attain β-stereoselectivity in D-rhamnosylation, researchers have devised numerous direct and indirect methodologies, including the hydrogen-bond-mediated aglycone delivery (HAD) method, the synthesis of β-D-mannoside paired with C6 deoxygenation, and the combined approach of 1,2-trans-glycosylation and C2 epimerization. This review elaborates on the advancements in β-D-rhamnosylation and its implications for the total synthesis of tiacumicin B and other physiologically relevant glycans.

Unraveling the promoter effect and the roles of counterion exchange in glycosylation reaction

The stereoselectivity of glycosidic bond formation continues to pose a noteworthy hurdle in synthesizing carbohydrates, primarily due to the simultaneous occurrence of SN1 and SN2 processes during the glycosylation reaction. Here, we applied an in-depth analysis of the glycosylation mechanism by using low-temperature nuclear magnetic resonance and statistical approaches. A pathway driven by counterion exchanges and reaction byproducts was first discovered to outline the stereocontributions of intermediates. Moreover, the relative reactivity values, acceptor nucleophilic constants, and Hammett substituent constants (σ values) provided a general index to indicate the mechanistic pathways. These results could allow building block tailoring and reaction condition optimization in carbohydrate synthesis to be greatly facilitated and simplified.

Stereoselective oxidative O-glycosylation of disarmed glycosyl iodides with alcohols using PIDA as the promoter

The direct and practical oxidative anomeric O-glycosylation of glycosyl iodides with an array of alcohols as glycosyl acceptors is presented. Using phenyliodine(III) diacetate (PIDA) as the promoter of the reaction, at ambient temperature, an enviromentally benign and operationally simple protocol has been developed providing access stereoselectively to 1,2-trans-O-glycosides.

Stereoselective Synthesis of the O-antigen of A. baumannii ATCC 17961 Using Long-Range Levulinoyl Group Participation

Herein, we described the first synthesis of the pentasaccharide and decasaccharide of the A. baumannii ATCC 17961 O-antigen for developing a synthetic carbohydrate-based vaccine against A. baumannii infection. The efficient synthesis of the rare sugar 2,3-diacetamido-glucuronate was achieved using our recently introduced organocatalytic glycosylation method. We found, for the first time, that long-range levulinoyl group participation via a hydrogen bond can result in a significantly improved β-selectivity in glycosylations. This solves the stereoselectivity problem of highly branched galactose acceptors. The proposed mechanism was supported by control experiments and DFT computations. Benefiting from the long-range levulinoyl group participation strategy, the pentasaccharide donor and acceptor were obtained via an efficient [2+1+2] one-pot glycosylation method and were used for the target decasaccharide synthesis.

β-Glycosylations with 2-Deoxy-2-(2,4-dinitrobenzenesulfonyl)-amino-glucosyl/galactosyl Selenoglycosides: Assembly of Partially N-Acetylated β-(1 → 6)-Oligoglucosaminosides

An efficient protocol has been established for β-glycosylations with 2-deoxy-2-(2,4-dinitrobenzenesulfonyl)amino (2dDNsNH)-glucopyranosyl/galactopyranosyl selenoglycosides using PhSeCl/AgOTf as an activating system. The reaction features highly β-selective glycosylation with a wide range of alcohol acceptors that are either sterically hindered or poorly nucleophilic. Thioglycoside- and selenoglycoside-based alcohols prove to be viable nucleophiles, opening up new opportunities for one-pot construction of oligosaccharides. The power of this approach is highlighted by the efficient assembly of tri-, hexa-, and nonasaccharides composed of β-(1 → 6)-glucosaminosyl residues based on one-pot preparation of a triglucosaminosyl thioglycoside with DNs, phthaloyl, and 2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonyl as the protecting groups of amino groups. These glycans are potential antigens for developing glycoconjugate vaccines against microbial infections.

Mapping the effect of configuration and protecting group pattern on glycosyl acceptor reactivity

The reactivity of the acceptor alcohol can have a tremendous influence on the outcome of a glycosylation reaction, both in terms of yield and stereoselectivity. Through a systematic survey of 67 acceptor alcohols in glycosylation reactions with two glucosyl donors we here reveal how the reactivity of a carbohydrate acceptor depends on its configuration and substitution pattern. The study shows how the functional groups flanking the acceptor alcohol influence the reactivity of the alcohol and show that both the nature and relative orientation play an essential role. The empiric acceptor reactivity guidelines revealed here will aid in the rational optimization of glycosylation reactions and be an important tool in the assembly of oligosaccharides.

Competing C-4 and C-5-Acyl Stabilization of Uronic Acid Glycosyl Cations

Uronic acids are carbohydrates carrying a terminal carboxylic acid and have a unique reactivity in stereoselective glycosylation reactions. Herein, the competing intramolecular stabilization of uronic acid cations by the C-5 carboxylic acid or the C-4 acetyl group was studied with infrared ion spectroscopy (IRIS). IRIS reveals that a mixture of bridged ions is formed, in which the mixture is driven towards the C-1,C-5 dioxolanium ion when the C-5,C-2-relationship is cis, and towards the formation of the C-1,C-4 dioxepanium ion when this relation is trans. Isomer-population analysis and interconversion barrier computations show that the two bridged structures are not in dynamic equilibrium and that their ratio parallels the density functional theory computed stability of the structures. These studies reveal how the intrinsic interplay of the different functional groups influences the formation of the different regioisomeric products.

Synthesis and Glycosidation of Anomeric Halides: Evolution from Early Studies to Modern Methods of the 21st Century

Advances in synthetic carbohydrate chemistry have dramatically improved access to common glycans. However, many novel methods still fail to adequately address challenges associated with chemical glycosylation and glycan synthesis. Since a challenge of glycosylation has remained, scientists have been frequently returning to the traditional glycosyl donors. This review is dedicated to glycosyl halides that have played crucial roles in shaping the field of glycosciences and continue to pave the way toward our understanding of chemical glycosylation.

Recent Advances in Stereoselective Chemical O-Glycosylation Reactions

Carbohydrates involving glycoconjugates play a pivotal role in many life processes. Better understanding toward glycobiological events including the structure–function relationship of these biomolecules and for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes including tailor-made vaccine development and synthesis of structurally well-defined oligosaccharides (OS) become important. Efficient chemical glycosylation in high yield and stereoselectivity is however challenging and depends on the fine tuning of a protection profile to get matching glycosyl donor–acceptor reactivity along with proper use of other important external factors like catalyst, solvent, temperature, activator, and additive. So far, many glycosylation methods have been reported including several reviews also. In the present review, we will concentrate our discussion on the recent trend on α- and β-selective glycosylation reactions reported during the past decade.

Side Chain Conformation and Its Influence on Glycosylation Selectivity in Hexo- and Higher Carbon Furanosides

We describe the synthesis and side chain conformational analysis of a series of four 6-deoxy-2,3,5-tri-O-benzyl hexofuranosyl donors with the d-gluco, l-ido, d-altro, and l-galacto configurations. The conformation of the exocyclic bond of these compounds depends on the relative configuration of the point of attachment of the side chain to the ring and of the two flanking centers and can be predicted on that basis analogously to the heptopyranose analogs. Variable-temperature nuclear magnetic resonance (VT NMR) spectroscopy of the activated donors reveals complex, configuration-dependent mixtures of intermediates that we interpret in terms of fused and bridged oxonium ions arising from participation by the various benzyl ethers. The increased importance of ether participation in the furanoside series compared to the pyranosides is discussed in terms of the reduced stabilization afforded to furanosyl oxocarbenium ions by covalent triflate formation. The stereoselectivities of the four donors are discussed on the basis of the benzyl ether participation model.

Transition-Metal-Mediated Glycosylation with Thioglycosides

Thioglycosides are among the most common glycosyl donors that find broad application in the synthesis of glycans and glycoconjugates. However, the requirement for toxic and/or large access of activators needed for common glycosylations with thioglycosides remains a notable drawback. Due to the increased awareness of the chemical waste impact on the environment, synthetic studies have been driven by the goal of finding non-toxic reagents. The main focus of this review is to highlight recent methods for thioglycoside activation that rely on transition metal catalysis.

Direct Experimental Characterization of a Bridged Bicyclic Glycosyl Dioxacarbenium Ion by 1 H and 13 C NMR Spectroscopy: Importance of Conformation on Participation by Distal Esters

Low-temperature NMR studies with a 4-C-methyl-4-O-benzoyl galactopyranosyl donor enable the observation and characterization of a bridged bicyclic dioxacarbenium ion arising from participation by a distal ester. Variable-temperature NMR studies reveal this bridged ion to decompose at temperatures above ≈-30 °C. In the absence of the methyl group, the formation of a bicyclic ion is not observed. It is concluded that participation by typical secondary distal esters in glycosylation reactions is disfavored in the ground state conformation of the ester from which it is stereoelectronically impossible. Methylation converts the secondary ester to a conformationally more labile tertiary ester, removes this barrier, and renders participation more favorable. Nevertheless, the minor changes in selectivity in model glycosylation reactions on going from the secondary to the tertiary esters at both low and room temperature argue against distal group participation being a major stereodirecting factor even for the tertiary system.

Silylated Sugars – Synthesis and Properties

Silicon has been used in carbohydrate chemistry for half a century, but mostly as a protective group for sugar alcohols. Recently, the use of silicon has expanded to functionalization via C–H activation, conformational arming of glycosyl donors, and conformational alteration of carbohydrates. Silicon has proven useful as more than a protective group and during the last one and a half decades we have demonstrated how it influences both the reactivity of glycosyl donors and stereochemical outcome of glycosylations. Silicon can also be attached directly to the sugar C-backbone, which has even more pronounced effects on the chemistry and properties of the molecules. In this Account, we will give a tour through our work involving silicon and carbohydrates.

1 Introduction

2 Conformational Arming of Glycosyl Donors with Silyl Groups

3 Silyl Protective Groups for Tethering Glycosyl Donors

4. Si–C Glycosides via C–H Activation

4.1 C–H Activation and Oxidation of Methyl 6-Deoxy-l-glycosides

4.2 Synthesis of All Eight 6-Deoxy-l-sugars

4.3 Synthesis of All Eight l-Sugars by C–H Activation

4.4 Modification of the Oxasilolane Ring

5 C–Si in Glycosyl Donors – Activating or Not?

6 Si–C-Substituted Pyranosides

7 Perspective

Aglycon reactivity as a guiding principle in latent-active approach to chemical glycosylations

Chemical glycosylations critically depend on the activation of a glycosyl donor and the reaction of this activated donor intermediate with an acceptor alcohol. Whereas many strategies are developed for the activation of an anomeric aglycon substituent, the latent-active method of glycosylation is based specifically on tuning the reactivity of the aglycon substituent of a glycosyl donor. Several novel methods have emerged to install reactive aglycon moiety in a glycosyl donor and fine-tuning the reactivity of the moiety. Remote functionalizations of the aglycon plays a key role in the reactivity tuning. Activation of a remote functionality enables an otherwise latent aglycon to an active moiety, suitable as a glycosyl donor. The latent-active approach provides an advantage to avoid the conversion of the aglycon to another donor prior to a glycosylation, in addition to advancing the contemporary glycosylations with alternate insights. The review analyzes the methodologies that consolidate the latent-active approach to chemical glycosylations.

Guidelines for O-Glycoside Formation from First Principles

With a view to reducing the notorious complexity and irreproducibility of glycosylation reactions, 12 guidelines for the choice of concentration, temperature, and counterions are adumbrated.

Characterization of Mannosyl Dioxanium Ions in Solution Using Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer NMR

The stereoselective introduction of the glycosidic bond remains one of the main challenges in carbohydrate synthesis. Characterizing the reactive intermediates of this reaction is key to develop stereoselective glycosylation reactions. Herein we report the characterization of low-populated, rapidly equilibrating, mannosyl dioxanium ions that arise from participation of a C-3 acyl group using chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) NMR spectroscopy. Dioxanium ion structure and equilibration kinetics were measured under relevant glycosylation conditions and highly α -selective couplings were observed suggesting glycosylation took place via this elusive intermediate.

Influence of Configuration at the 4- and 6-Positions on the Conformation and Anomeric Reactivity and Selectivity of 7-Deoxyheptopyranosyl Donors: Discovery of a Highly Equatorially Selective l-glycero-d-gluco-Heptopyranosyl Donor

The preparation of four per-O-benzyl-d- or l-glycero-d-galacto and d- or l-glycero-d-gluco heptopyranosyl sulfoxides and the influence of their side-chain conformations on reactivity and stereoselectivity in glycosylation reactions are described. The side-chain conformation in these donors is determined by the relative configuration of its point of attachment to the pyranoside ring and the two flanking centers in agreement with a recent model. In the d- and l-glycero-d-galacto glycosyl donors, the d-glycero-d-galacto isomer with the more electron-withdrawing trans,gauche conformation of its side chain was the more equatorially selective isomer. In the d- and l-glycero-d-gluco glycosyl donors, the l-glycero-d-gluco isomer with the least disarming gauche,gauche side-chain conformation was the most equatorially selective donor. Variable temperature NMR studies, while supporting the formation of intermediate glycosyl triflates at -80 °C in all cases, were inconclusive owing to a change in the decomposition mechanism with the change in configuration. It is suggested that the equatorial selectivity of the l-glycero-d-gluco isomer arises from H-bonding between the glycosyl acceptor and O6 of the donor, which is poised to deliver the acceptor antiperiplanar to the glycosyl triflate, resulting in a high degree of S_N2 character in the displacement reaction.

Synthesis of the hyper-branched core tetrasaccharide motif of chloroviruses

Chemical synthesis of complex oligosaccharides, especially those possessing hyper-branched structures with one or multiple 1,2-cis glycosidic bonds, is a challenging task. Complementary reactivity of glycosyl donors and acceptors and proper tuning of the solvent/temperature/activator coupled with compromised glycosylation yields for sterically congested glycosyl acceptors are among several factors that make such syntheses daunting. Herein, we report the synthesis of a semi-conserved hyper-branched core tetrasaccharide motif from chloroviruses which are associated with reduced cognitive function in humans as well as in mouse models. The target tetrasaccharide contains four different sugar residues in which l-fucose is connected to d-xylose and l-rhamnose via a 1,2-trans glycosidic bond, whereas with the d-galactose residue is connected through a 1,2-cis glycosidic bond. A thorough and comprehensive study of various accountable factors enabled us to install a 1,2-cis galactopyranosidic linkage in a stereoselective fashion under [Au]/[Ag]-catalyzed glycosidation conditions en route to the target tetrasaccharide motif in 14 steps.

Glycosyl Oxocarbenium Ions: Structure, Conformation, Reactivity, and Interactions

Carbohydrates (glycans, saccharides, and sugars) are essential molecules in all domains of life. Research on glycoscience spans from chemistry to biomedicine, including material science and biotechnology. Access to pure and well-defined complex glycans using synthetic methods depends on the success of the employed glycosylation reaction. In most cases, the mechanism of the glycosylation reaction is believed to involve the oxocarbenium ion. Understanding the structure, conformation, reactivity, and interactions of this glycosyl cation is essential to predict the outcome of the reaction. In this Account, building on our contributions on this topic, we discuss the theoretical and experimental approaches that have been employed to decipher the key features of glycosyl cations, from their structures to their interactions and reactivity.We also highlight that, from a chemical perspective, the glycosylation reaction can be described as a continuum, from unimolecular SN1 with naked oxocarbenium cations as intermediates to bimolecular SN2-type mechanisms, which involve the key role of counterions and donors. All these factors should be considered and are discussed herein. The importance of dissociative mechanisms (involving contact ion pairs, solvent-separated ion pairs, solvent-equilibrated ion pairs) with bimolecular features in most reactions is also highlighted.The role of theoretical calculations to predict the conformation, dynamics, and reactivity of the oxocarbenium ion is also discussed, highlighting the advances in this field that now allow access to the conformational preferences of a variety of oxocarbenium ions and their reactivities under SN1-like conditions.Specifically, the ground-breaking use of superacids to generate these cations is emphasized, since it has permitted characterization of the structure and conformation of a variety of glycosyl oxocarbenium ions in superacid solution by NMR spectroscopy.We also pay special attention to the reactivity of these glycosyl ions, which depends on the conditions, including the counterions, the possible intra- or intermolecular participation of functional groups that may stabilize the cation and the chemical nature of the acceptor, either weak or strong nucleophile. We discuss recent investigations from different experimental perspectives, which identified the involved ionic intermediates, estimating their lifetimes and reactivities and studying their interactions with other molecules. In this context, we also emphasize the relationship between the chemical methods that can be employed to modulate the sensitivity of glycosyl cations and the way in which glycosyl modifying enzymes (glycosyl hydrolases and transferases) build and cleave glycosidic linkages in nature. This comparison provides inspiration on the use of molecules that regulate the stability and reactivity of glycosyl cations.

Self-Promoted Stereoselective Glycosylations - Past, Present, Future

Self-promoted glycosylations have generally not received much attention, despite having the advantages of being easy to perform and often highly stereoselective. This account covers the work done in this field and the mechanistic aspects of self-promoted glycosylations are discussed, with a main focus on the stereoselectivity of the reactions. Most self-promoted glycosylations utilize trichloroacetimidate donors, but examples of self-promoted reactions with other donors have been described and will be discussed. Self-promoted glycosylation strategies can provide a basis for new stereoselective glycosylation methodologies.

Automated Quantification of Hydroxyl Reactivities: Prediction of Glycosylation Reactions

The stereoselectivity and yield in glycosylation reactions are paramount but unpredictable. We have developed a database of acceptor nucleophilic constants (Aka) to quantify the nucleophilicity of hydroxyl groups in glycosylation influenced by the steric, electronic and structural effects, providing a connection between experiments and computer algorithms. The subtle reactivity differences among the hydroxyl groups on various carbohydrate molecules can be defined by Aka, which is easily accessible by a simple and convenient automation system to assure high reproducibility and accuracy. A diverse range of glycosylation donors and acceptors with well-defined reactivity and promoters were organized and processed by the designed software program "GlycoComputer" for prediction of glycosylation reactions without involving sophisticated computational processing. The importance of Aka was further verified by random forest algorithm, and the applicability was tested by the synthesis of a Lewis A skeleton to show that the stereoselectivity and yield can be accurately estimated.

Computational evidence of glycosyl cations

Glycosyl cations are key intermediates in the glycosylation reactions taking place through a S_N1-type mechanism. To obtain a reliable description of the glycosylation reaction mechanism a combination of computational studies and experimental data such as kinetic isotopic effects is needed. Computational studies have elucidated S_N2-type glycosylation reaction mechanisms, but elucidation of mechanisms in which ion pairs can be formed presents some difficulties because of the recombination of the ions. Recent topological and dynamic studies open the door to the ultimate confirmation of the presence of glycosyl cations in the form of intimate ion pairs during certain glycosylation reactions. This review covers the state-of-the-art tools and applications of computational chemistry mainly developed during the last ten years to understand glycosylation reactions in which an oxocarbenium ion could be involved.

Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics Simulations of the SN1/SN2 Mechanistic Continuum in Glycosylation Reactions

We report a computational approach to evaluate the reaction mechanisms of glycosylation using ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations in explicit solvent. The reaction pathways are simulated via free energy calculations based on metadynamics and trajectory simulations using Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics. We applied this approach to investigate the mechanisms of the glycosylation of glucosyl α-trichloroacetimidate with three acceptors (EtOH, i-PrOH, and t-BuOH) in three solvents (ACN, DCM, and MTBE). The reactants and the solvents are treated explicitly using density functional theory. We show that the profile of the free energy surface, the synchronicity of the transition state structure, and the time gap between leaving group dissociation and nucleophile association can be used as three complementary indicators to describe the glycosylation mechanism within the SN1/SN2 continuum for a given reaction. This approach provides a reliable means to rationalize and predict reaction mechanisms and to estimate lifetimes of oxocarbenium intermediates and their dependence on the glycosyl donor, acceptor, and solvent environment.

En Route to the Transformation of Glycoscience: A Chemist's Perspective on Internal and External Crossroads in Glycochemistry

Carbohydrate chemistry is an essential component of the glycosciences and is fundamental to their progress. This Perspective takes the position that carbohydrate chemistry, or glycochemistry, has reached three crossroads on the path to the transformation of the glycosciences, and illustrates them with examples from the author's and other laboratories. The first of these potential inflexion points concerns the mechanism of the glycosylation reaction and the role of protecting groups. It is argued that the experimental evidence supports bimolecular SN2-like mechanisms for typical glycosylation reactions over unimolecular ones involving stereoselective attack on naked glycosyl oxocarbenium ions. Similarly, it is argued that the experimental evidence does not support long-range stereodirecting participation of remote esters through bridged bicyclic dioxacarbenium ions in organic solution in the presence of typical counterions. Rational design and improvement of glycosylation reactions must take into account the roles of the counterion and of concentration. A second crossroads is that between mainstream organic chemistry and glycan synthesis. The case is made that the only real difference between glycan and organic synthesis is the formation of C-O rather than C-C bonds, with diastereocontrol, strategy, tactics, and elegance being of critical importance in both areas: mainstream organic chemists should feel comfortable taking this fork in the road, just as carbohydrate chemists should traveling in the opposite direction. A third crossroads is that between carbohydrate chemistry and medicinal chemistry, where there are equally many opportunities for traffic in either direction. The glycosciences have advanced enormously in the past decade or so, but creativity, input, and ingenuity of scientists from all fields is needed to address the many sophisticated challenges that remain, not the least of which is the development of a broader and more general array of stereospecific glycosylation reactions.

Reactivity-Stereoselectivity Mapping for the Assembly of Mycobacterium marinum Lipooligosaccharides

The assembly of complex bacterial glycans presenting rare structural motifs and cis-glycosidic linkages is significantly obstructed by the lack of knowledge of the reactivity of the constituting building blocks and the stereoselectivity of the reactions in which they partake. We here report a strategy to map the reactivity of carbohydrate building blocks and apply it to understand the reactivity of the bacterial sugar, caryophyllose, a rare C12-monosaccharide, containing a characteristic tetrasubstituted stereocenter. We mapped reactivity-stereoselectivity relationships for caryophyllose donor and acceptor glycosides by a systematic series of glycosylations in combination with the detection and characterization of different reactive intermediates using experimental and computational techniques. The insights garnered from these studies enabled the rational design of building blocks with the required properties to assemble mycobacterial lipooligosaccharide fragments of M. marinum.

Predicting glycosylation stereoselectivity using machine learning

Predicting the stereochemical outcome of chemical reactions is challenging in mechanistically ambiguous transformations. The stereoselectivity of glycosylation reactions is influenced by at least eleven factors across four chemical participants and temperature. A random forest algorithm was trained using a highly reproducible, concise dataset to accurately predict the stereoselective outcome of glycosylations. The steric and electronic contributions of all chemical reagents and solvents were quantified by quantum mechanical calculations. The trained model accurately predicts stereoselectivities for unseen nucleophiles, electrophiles, acid catalyst, and solvents across a wide temperature range (overall root mean square error 6.8%). All predictions were validated experimentally on a standardized microreactor platform. The model helped to identify novel ways to control glycosylation stereoselectivity and accurately predicts previously unknown means of stereocontrol. By quantifying the degree of influence of each variable, we begin to gain a better general understanding of the transformation, for example that environmental factors influence the stereoselectivity of glycosylations more than the coupling partners in this area of chemical space.

A random forest algorithm, trained on a concise dataset and validated experimentally, accurately predicts the stereoselectivity of a complex organic coupling varying all reaction parameters as well as previously unknown mechanistic influences.

Contributing to the Study of Enzymatic and Chemical Glycosyl Transfer Through the Observation and Mimicry of Glycosyl Cations

This account describes our efforts dedicated to: 1) the design of glycomimetics aimed at targeting therapeutically relevant carbohydrate processing enzymes, and 2) the observation, characterization, and exploitation of glycosyl cations as a tool for studying the glycosylation reaction. These findings have brought important data regarding this key ionic species as well as innovative strategies to access iminosugars of interest.

1 Introduction

2 The Glycosyl Cation, A Central Species in Glycosciences

2.1 A Selection of the Strategies Developed so far to Gain Insights into Glycosyl Cations Structure

2.2 When Superacids Meet Carbohydrates

3 Chemical Probes to Gain Insights into the Pseudorotational Itinerary of Glycosides During Glycosidic Bond Hydrolysis

3.1 Conformationally Locked Glycosides

3.1.1 The Xylopyranose Case

3.1.2 The Mannopyranose Case

3.2 Conformationally Flexible Iminosugars

3.2.1 Nojirimycin Ring Homologues

3.2.2 Noeuromycin Ring Homologues

3.2.3 Seven-Membered Iminosugar C-Glycosides

4 N-Acetyl-d-glucosamine Mimics

5 Ring Contraction: A Useful Tool to Increase Iminosugar’s Structural Diversity

6 Regioselective Deprotection of Iminosugar C-Glycosides to Introduce Diversity at C2 Position

7 Conclusion

Statistical Analysis of Glycosylation Reactions

Chemical synthesis is one of the practical approaches to access carbohydrate-based natural products and their derivatives with high quality and in a large quantity. However, stereoselectivity during the glycosylation reaction is the main challenge because the reaction can generate both α- and β-glycosides. The main focus of the present article is the concept of recent mechanistic studies that have applied statistical analysis and quantitation for defining stereoselective changes during the reaction process. Based on experimental evidence, a detailed discussion associated with the mechanism and degree of influence affecting the stereoselective outcome of glycosylation is included.

Characterization of glycosyl dioxolenium ions and their role in glycosylation reactions

Controlling the chemical glycosylation reaction remains the major challenge in the synthesis of oligosaccharides. Though 1,2-trans glycosidic linkages can be installed using neighboring group participation, the construction of 1,2-cis linkages is difficult and has no general solution. Long-range participation (LRP) by distal acyl groups may steer the stereoselectivity, but contradictory results have been reported on the role and strength of this stereoelectronic effect. It has been exceedingly difficult to study the bridging dioxolenium ion intermediates because of their high reactivity and fleeting nature. Here we report an integrated approach, using infrared ion spectroscopy, DFT computations, and a systematic series of glycosylation reactions to probe these ions in detail. Our study reveals how distal acyl groups can play a decisive role in shaping the stereochemical outcome of a glycosylation reaction, and opens new avenues to exploit these species in the assembly of oligosaccharides and glycoconjugates to fuel biological research.

Synthesis of β-Glucosides with 3-O-Picoloyl-Protected Glycosyl Donors in the Presence of Excess Triflic Acid: Defining the Scope

Excellent β-stereoselectivity for the glycosylation with glucosyl donors equipped with the 3-O-picoloyl (Pico) group, without the use of participating group, was achieved in the presence of NIS/excess TfOH promoter system. A complete investigation of the scope of this reaction was performed, revealing all important attributes of successful glycosylation. While altering the halogen source was tolerated, substitution of the triflate anion resulted in complete loss of stereoselectivity. Protonation of the Pico group was determined to be crucial in this reaction. The stability or extent of the protonated pyridine ring was also found to be another important key factor in obtaining high stereoselectivity. The nucleophilicity of the acceptor was found to be proportional to the stereoselectivity obtained, suggesting an S_N 2-like mechanism.

Synthesis of β-Glucosides with 3-O-Picoloyl-Protected Glycosyl Donors in the Presence of Excess Triflic Acid: A Mechanistic Study

Our previous study showed that picoloylated donors are capable of providing excellent facial stereoselectivity through the H-bond-mediated aglycone delivery (HAD) pathway. Presented herein is a detailed mechanistic study of stereoselective glycosylation with 3-O-picoloylated glucosyl donors. While reactions of glycosyl donors equipped with the 3-O-benzoyl group are typically non-stereoselective because these reactions proceed via the oxacarbenium intermediate, 3-O-picoloylated donors are capable of providing enhanced, but somewhat relaxed, β-stereoselectivity by the HAD pathway. In an attempt to refine this reaction, we noticed that glycosylations are highly β-stereoselective in the presence of NIS and stoichiometric TfOH. The HAD pathway is highly unlikely because the picoloyl nitrogen is protonated under these reaction conditions. The protonation and glycosylation were studied by low-temperature NMR, and the intermediacy of the glycosyl triflate has been observed. This article is dedicated to broadening the scope of this reaction in application to a variety of substrates and targets.

Dimethylformamide-Modulated Kdo Glycosylation for Stereoselective Synthesis of α-Kdo Glycosides

A simple and direct DMF-modulated α-selective Kdo glycosylation approach for the stereoselective synthesis of the α-linked Kdo glycosides is developed. Glycosylation of the readily available peracetylated Kdo ortho-hexynylbenzoate with common acceptor alcohols using SPhosAuNTf₂ as a promoter and DMF as a modulating molecule afforded a range of Kdo glycosides with good α-selectivities. Furthermore, the present method is effectively applied in the latent-active synthesis of the α-linked di-Kdo glycoside bearing a linker at the reducing end. Finally, the first observation of a Kdo imidinium ion in the low-temperature NMR provides evidence for the plausible mechanism of the DMF-modulated α-selective Kdo glycosylation.