Aqueous Glycosylation of Unprotected Sucrose Employing Glycosyl Fluorides in the Presence of Calcium Ion and Trimethylamine

Overview of the current procedures in synthesis of heparin saccharides

Natural heparin, a glycosaminoglycan consisting of repeating hexuronic acid and glucosamine linked by 1 → 4 glycosidic bonds, is the most widely used anticoagulant. To subvert the dependence on animal sourced heparin, alternative methods to produce heparin saccharides, i.e., either heterogenous sugar chains similar to natural heparin, or structurally defined oligosaccharides, are becoming hot subjects. Although the success by chemical synthesis of the pentasaccharide, fondaparinux, encourages to proceed through a chemical approach generating homogenous product, synthesizing larger oligos is still cumbersome and beyond reach so far. Alternatively, the chemoenzymatic pathway exhibited exquisite stereoselectivity of glycosylation and regioselectivity of modification, with the advantage to skip the tedious protection steps unavoidable in chemical synthesis. However, to a scale of drug production needed today is still not in sight. In comparison, a procedure of de novo biosynthesis in an organism could be an ultimate goal. The main purpose of this review is to summarize the current available/developing strategies and techniques, which is expected to provide a comprehensive picture for production of heparin saccharides to replenish or eventually to replace the animal derived products. In chemical and chemoenzymatic approaches, the methodologies are discussed according to the synthesis procedures: building block preparation, chain elongation, and backbone modification.

An Open-Air Palladium-Catalyzed Stereoselective O-Glycosylation of Glycals via in-situ Generation of gem-Disubstituted Methanols from p-Quinone Methides

We devised a palladium-catalyzed α-stereoselective glycosylation that incorporates oxygen via in-situ generation of gem-disubstituted methanols from p-quinone methides to access 2,3-unsaturated gem-diarylmethyl O-glycosides under open-air atmosphere at room temperature. Advantages of this environmentally friendly strategy include the absence of additives and ligands, using water as the green source of oxygen, mildest, operationally simple, exhibiting a wide functional group tolerance, and compatibility with a variety of glycal progenitors in appreciable yields. A mechanistic study has been verified via H2 18 O labeling, which validates that water (moisture) is a sole source of oxygen.

Synthesis and Evaluation of Glycosyl Luciferins

Measuring glycosidase activity is important to monitor any aberrations in carbohydrate hydrolase activity, but also for the screening of potential glycosidase inhibitors. To this end, synthetic substrates are needed which provide an enzyme-dependent read-out upon hydrolysis by the glycosidase. Herein, we present two new routes for the synthesis of caged luminescent carbohydrates, which can be used for determining glycosidase activity with a luminescent reporter molecule. The substrates were validated with glycosidase and revealed a clear linear range and enzyme-dependent signal upon the in situ generation of the luciferin moiety from the corresponding nitrile precursors. Besides, we showed that these compounds could directly be synthesized from unprotected glycosyl-α-fluorides in a two-step procedure with yields up to 75 %. The intermediate methyl imidate appeared a key intermediate which also reacted with d-cysteine to give the corresponding d-luciferin substrate rendering this a highly attractive method for synthesizing glycosyl luciferins in good yields.

Palladium catalysis enables cross-coupling-like SN2-glycosylation of phenols

Despite their importance in life and material sciences, the efficient construction of stereo-defined glycosides remains a challenge. Studies of carbohydrate functions would be advanced if glycosylation methods were as reliable and modular as palladium (Pd)-catalyzed cross-coupling. However, Pd-catalysis excels in forming sp2-hybridized carbon centers whereas glycosylation mostly builds sp3-hybridized C-O linkages. We report a glycosylation platform through Pd-catalyzed SN2 displacement from phenols toward bench-stable, aryl-iodide-containing glycosyl sulfides. The key Pd(II) oxidative addition intermediate diverges from an arylating agent (Csp2 electrophile) to a glycosylating agent (Csp3 electrophile). This method inherits many merits of cross-coupling reactions, including operational simplicity and functional group tolerance. It preserves the SN2 mechanism for various substrates and is amenable to late-stage glycosylation of commercial drugs and natural products.

Base-Promoted Glycosylation Allows Protecting Group-Free and Stereoselective O-Glycosylation of Carboxylic Acids

Here we report a simple and general method to achieve fully unprotected, stereoselective glycosylation of carboxylic acids, employing bench-stable allyl glycosyl sulfones as donors. Running the glycosylation reaction under basic conditions was crucial for the efficiencies and selectivities. Both the donor activation stage and the glycosidic bond forming stage of the process are compatible with free hydroxyl groups, thereby allowing for the use of fully unprotected glycosyl donors. This transformation is stereoconvergent, occurs under mild and metal-free conditions at ambient temperature with visible light (455 nm) irradiation, and displays remarkable scope with respect to both reaction partners. Many natural products and commercial drugs, including an acid derived from the complex anticancer agent taxol, were efficiently glycosylated. Experimental studies provide insights into the origin of the stereochemical outcome.

Exploration of the Transglycosylation Activity of Barley Limit Dextrinase for Production of Novel Glycoconjugates

A few α-glucan debranching enzymes (DBEs) of the large glycoside hydrolase family 13 (GH13), also known as the α-amylase family, have been shown to catalyze transglycosylation as well as hydrolysis. However, little is known about their acceptor and donor preferences. Here, a DBE from barley, limit dextrinase (HvLD), is used as a case study. Its transglycosylation activity is studied using two approaches; (i) natural substrates as donors and different p-nitrophenyl (pNP) sugars as well as different small glycosides as acceptors, and (ii) α-maltosyl and α-maltotriosyl fluorides as donors with linear maltooligosaccharides, cyclodextrins, and GH inhibitors as acceptors. HvLD showed a clear preference for pNP maltoside both as acceptor/donor and acceptor with the natural substrate pullulan or a pullulan fragment as donor. Maltose was the best acceptor with α-maltosyl fluoride as donor. The findings highlight the importance of the subsite +2 of HvLD for activity and selectivity when maltooligosaccharides function as acceptors. However, remarkably, HvLD is not very selective when it comes to aglycone moiety; different aromatic ring-containing molecules besides pNP could function as acceptors. The transglycosylation activity of HvLD can provide glycoconjugate compounds with novel glycosylation patterns from natural donors such as pullulan, although the reaction would benefit from optimization.

Catalytic Approaches to Chemo- and Site-Selective Transformation of Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are a fundamental unit playing pivotal roles in all the biological processes. It is thus essential to develop methods for synthesizing, functionalizing, and manipulating carbohydrates for further understanding of their functions and the creation of sugar-based functional materials. It is, however, not trivial to develop such methods, since carbohydrates are densely decorated with polar and similarly reactive hydroxy groups in a stereodefined manner. New approaches to chemo- and site-selective transformations of carbohydrates are, therefore, of great significance for revolutionizing sugar chemistry to enable easier access to sugars of interest. This review begins with a brief overview of the innate reactivity of hydroxy groups of carbohydrates. It is followed by discussions about catalytic approaches to enhance, override, or be orthogonal to the innate reactivity for the transformation of carbohydrates. This review avoids making a list of chemo- and site-selective reactions, but rather focuses on summarizing the concept behind each reported transformation. The literature references were sorted into sections based on the underlying ideas of the catalytic approaches, which we hope will help readers have a better sense of the current state of chemistry and develop innovative ideas for the field.

Bioinspired Total Synthesis of Complex Nucleoside Antibiotics A201A, A201D and A201E

Herein, bioinspired total syntheses of A201A, A201D, and A201E based on a previously reported biosynthetic pathway are presented. The challenging 1,2-cis-furanoside, a core structure of the A201 family, was obtained by remote 2-quinolinecarbonyl-assisted glycosylation. We accomplished the total synthesis of A201A and A201E based on the critical 1,2-cis-furanoside moiety through late-stage glycosylation without any interference from basic dimethyl adenosine. We also confirmed the absolute configuration of A201E by total synthesis. This modular synthesis strategy enables efficient preparation of A201 family antibiotics, allowing the study of their structure-activity relationships and mode of action. This study satisfies the increasing demand for developing novel antibiotics inspired by the A201 family.

Synthesis of 2-Deoxyglycosides Bearing Free Hydroxyl Substituents on the Glycosyl Donor

Recent efforts in the field of carbohydrate chemistry have focused on the site- and stereocontrolled synthesis of O-glycosides derived from acceptors bearing multiple hydroxyl substituents. By comparison, there are few examples of the site-selective synthesis of O-glycosides bearing free hydroxyl substituents on the donor reagent. Here, we report the application of an umpolung glycosylation strategy to the synthesis of O-glycosides derived from donors bearing free hydroxyl substituents. The reaction proceeds via prior deprotonation of one or more free hydroxyl groups on a thiophenylglycoside donor, reductive lithiation to generate an anomeric anion intermediate, and addition of this anion to an alkyl 2-(2-methyltetrahydropyranyl) peroxide. By this approach, α-linked glycosides were obtained in 39-84% yields and with >50:1 α/β selectivities. In many instances, β-linked products could be obtained by thermal equilibration of the anomeric anion intermediate (selectivities = 3.8-8:1 β/α; yields = 33-68%). The strategy is applicable to polyhydroxyl donors bearing up to three free hydroxyl groups, N-acylated carbohydrates, and the single-flask syntheses of oligosaccharides.

Pyridoneimine-catalyzed anomeric aqueous oxa-Michael additions of native mono- and disaccharides

A pyridoneimine-catalyzed oxa-Michael addition of protecting groups-free, native mono- and disaccharides with Michael acceptors in aq. solution is reported. Several mono- and disaccharides are reacted with acceptors, namely, methylvinyl ketone, acrylonitrile and tert-butyl acrylate in aq. solution, the addition catalyzed by n-pentylpyridone imine. The addition occurs site-selectively at the anomeric lactol and the remaining hydroxy functionalities are un-affected. The resulting keto-glycopyranoside products are explored in aldol, allylation and oxime product formation, occurring at either α-methyl moiety or at the keto-moiety, with appropriate synthons. In another direction, the keto-glycopyranoside is functionalized further with amino acids through reductive amination in aq. methanol solution. Formation of hemiacetal anion occurs in the presence of pyridoneimine in aq. Solution, enabling subsequent addition to occur with acceptors. Facile reductive amination of the resulting keto-glycoside provides an avenue for conjugations with amino acids in the present work.

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.

One-Pot Synthesis of Glycosyl Chlorides from Thioglycosides Mediated by Bromodiethylsulfonium Salt as A Mild Oxidant

Conventional synthesis of glycosyl chlorides from thioglycosides relies on the two sequential oxidation and chlorination. A one-pot synthesis of glycosyl chlorides is warranted as an alternative method. Herein, we report the one-pot synthesis of glycosyl chlorides from thioglycoside precursors. The transformation was mediated at low temperature by bromodiethylsulfonium bromopentachloroantimonate (BDSB) as a mild oxidant and n-Bu4NCl as an additive. The armed thioglycosides afforded the corresponding α-glycosyl chlorides in moderate to good yields under the optimized conditions. Low conversions and yields were obtained when the less reactive disarmed thioglycosides were used. Unexpectedly, BDSB-mediated oxidation of thioglycosides without the addition of n-Bu4NCl also afforded the α-glycosyl chlorides in moderate yields. We suggest a mechanism involving the transfer of chloride ions from the non-nucleophilic bromopentachloroantimonate (SbCl5Br) anion to the oxocarbenium ion.

Protecting group free glycosylation: one-pot stereocontrolled access to 1,2-trans glycosides and (1→6)-linked disaccharides of 2-acetamido sugars

Unprotected 2-acetamido sugars may be directly converted into their oxazolines using 2-chloro-1,3-dimethylimidazolinium chloride (DMC), and a suitable base, in aqueous solution. Freeze drying and acid catalysed reaction with an alcohol as solvent produces the corresponding 1,2-trans-glycosides in good yield. Alternatively, dissolution in an aprotic solvent system and acidic activation in the presence of an excess of an unprotected glycoside as a glycosyl acceptor, results in the stereoselective formation of the corresponding 1,2-trans linked disaccharides without any protecting group manipulations. Reactions using aryl glycosides as acceptors are completely regioselective, producing only the (1→6)-linked disaccharides.

Anomeric alkylations and acylations of unprotected mono- and disaccharides mediated by pyridoneimine in aqueous solutions

A site-specific deprotonation followed by alkylations and acylations of sugar hemiacetals to the corresponding alkyl glycosides and acylated sugars in aqueous solutions is disclosed herein. Pyridoneimine as a new base is developed to mediate the deprotonation of readily available sugar hemiacetals and further reactions with alkylation and acylation agents.

Streamlined Iterative Assembly of Thio-Oligosaccharides by Aqueous S-Glycosylation of Diverse Deoxythio Sugars

A streamlined iterative assembly of thio-oligosaccharides was developed by aqueous glycosylation. Facile syntheses of various deoxythio sugars with the sulfur on different positions from commercially available starting materials were described. These syntheses featured efficient chemical methods including our recently reported BTM-catalyzed site-selective acylation. The resulting deoxythio sugars could then be used for the Ca(OH)₂ -promoted protecting group-free S-glycosylation in water at room temperature. The aqueous glycosylation reaction proceeded smoothly to afford the corresponding 1,2-trans S-glycosides in good yields with high chemo- and stereoselectivity. An appropriate choice of protecting groups for the thiol in the glycosyl donor was necessary for the development of iterative synthesis of thio-oligosaccharides. The aqueous glycosylation was then applied to the synthesis of a trimannoside moiety of N-linked glycans core region.

Immobilized Carbohydrates for Preparation of 3'-Glycoconjugated Oligonucleotides

A detailed protocol for preparation 3'-glycoconjugated oligonucleotides is described based on one-pot immobilization of 4,4'-dimethoxytrityl-protected carbohydrates to a solid support followed by on-support peracetylation and automated oligonucleotide assembly. Compared to an appropriate building block approach and post-synthetic manipulation of oligonucleotides, this protocol may simplify the synthesis scheme and increase overall yield of the conjugates. Furthermore, the immobilization to a solid support typically increases the stability of reactants, enabling prolonged storage, and makes subsequent processing convenient. Automated assembly on these carbohydrate-modified supports using conventional phosphoramidite chemistry produces 3'-glycoconjugated oligonucleotides in relatively high yield and purity. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Synthesis of 1-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-6-O-(4,4'-dimethoxytrityl)-β-D-glucose Basic Protocol 2: Synthesis of 6-O-dimethoxytrityl-2,3,1',3',4',6'-hexa-O-benzoylsucrose Basic Protocol 3: Synthesis of 6″-O-dimethoxytrityl-N-trifluoroacetyl-protected aminoglycosides Basic Protocol 4: Synthesis of 3-O-dimethoxytrityl-propyl β-D-galactopyranoside Basic Protocol 5: Synthesis of trivalent N-acetyl galactosamine cluster Basic Protocol 6: Synthesis of carbohydrate monosuccinates and their immobilization to a solid support Basic Protocol 7: Oligonucleotide synthesis using immobilized carbohydrates.

Metal-free glycosylation with glycosyl fluorides in liquid SO2

Liquid SO₂ is a polar solvent that dissolves both covalent and ionic compounds. Sulfur dioxide possesses also Lewis acid properties, including the ability to covalently bind Lewis basic fluoride ions in a relatively stable fluorosulfite anion (FSO₂ ^-). Herein we report the application of liquid SO₂ as a promoting solvent for glycosylation with glycosyl fluorides without any external additive. By using various temperature regimes, the method is applied for both armed and disarmed glucose and mannose-derived glycosyl fluorides in moderate to excellent yields. A series of pivaloyl-protected O- and S-mannosides, as well as one example of a C-mannoside, are synthesized to demonstrate the scope of the glycosyl acceptors. The formation of the fluorosulfite species during the glycosylation with glycosyl fluorides in liquid SO₂ is proved by ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy. A sulfur dioxide-assisted glycosylation mechanism that proceeds via solvent separated ion pairs is proposed, whereas the observed α,β-selectivity is substrate-controlled and depends on the thermodynamic equilibrium.

Protecting-group-free S-glycosylation towards thioglycosides and thioglycopeptides in water

A facile and green S-glycosylation method has been developed featuring protecting-group-free and proceeding-in-water like enzymatic synthesis. Glycosylation of fluoride donors with thiol sugar acceptors using Ca(OH)2 as a promoter afforded various thioglycosides in good yields with exclusive stereoselectivity. This method also enabled the successful production of S-linked oligosaccharides and S-linked glycopeptides.

A Palette of Minimally Tagged Sucrose Analogues for Real-Time Raman Imaging of Intracellular Plant Metabolism

Sucrose is the main saccharide used for long-distance transport in plants and plays an essential role in energy metabolism; however, there are no analogues for real-time imaging in live cells. We have optimised a synthetic approach to prepare sucrose analogues including very small (≈50 Da or less) Raman tags in the fructose moiety. Spectroscopic analysis identified the alkyne-tagged compound 6 as a sucrose analogue recognised by endogenous transporters in live cells and with higher Raman intensity than other sucrose derivatives. Herein, we demonstrate the application of compound 6 as the first optical probe to visualise real-time uptake and intracellular localisation of sucrose in live plant cells using Raman microscopy.

A Palette of Minimally Tagged Sucrose Analogues for Real-Time Raman Imaging of Intracellular Plant Metabolism

Sucrose is the main saccharide used for long-distance transport in plants and plays an essential role in energy metabolism; however, there are no analogues for real-time imaging in live cells. We have optimised a synthetic approach to prepare sucrose analogues including very small (≈50 Da or less) Raman tags in the fructose moiety. Spectroscopic analysis identified the alkyne-tagged compound 6 as a sucrose analogue recognised by endogenous transporters in live cells and with higher Raman intensity than other sucrose derivatives. Herein, we demonstrate the application of compound 6 as the first optical probe to visualise real-time uptake and intracellular localisation of sucrose in live plant cells using Raman microscopy.

Surfactant-mediated thioglycosylation of 1-hydroxy sugars in water

Thioglycosides are an important class of sugars, since they can be used as non-ionic biosurfactants, biomimetic glycosides, and building blocks for carbohydrate synthesis. Previously, Brønsted- or Lewis-acid-catalyzed dehydrative glycosylations between a 1-hydroxy sugar and a thiol have been reported to yield open-chain dithioacetal sugars as the major products instead of the desired thioglycosides. These dithioacetal sugars are by-products derived from the endocyclic bond cleavage of the thioglycosides. Herein, we report dehydrative glycosylation in water mediated by a Brønsted acid-surfactant combined catalyst (BASC). Glycosylations between 1-hydroxy furanosyl/pyranosyl sugars and primary, secondary, and tertiary aliphatic/aromatic thiols in the presence of dodecyl benzenesulfonic acid (DBSA) provided the thioglycoside products in moderate to good yields. Microwave irradiation led to improvements in the yields and a shortening of the reaction time. Remarkably, open-chain dithioacetal sugars were not detected in the DBSA-mediated glycosylations in water. This method is a simple, convenient, and rapid approach to produce a library of thioglycosides without the requirement of anhydrous conditions. Moreover, this work also provides an excellent example of complementary reactivity profiles of glycosylation in organic solvents and water.

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.

Synthesis of Glycosyl Fluorides by Photochemical Fluorination with Sulfur(VI) Hexafluoride

This study describes a new convenient method for the photocatalytic generation of glycosyl fluorides using sulfur(VI) hexafluoride as an inexpensive and safe fluorinating agent and 4,4′-dimethoxybenzophenone as a readily available organic photocatalyst. This mild method was employed to generate 16 different glycosyl fluorides, including the substrates with acid and base labile functionalities, in yields of 43%–97%, and it was applied in continuous flow to accomplish fluorination on an 7.7 g scale and 93% yield.

Hydrogen atom transfer from 1,2- and 1,3-diols to the cumyloxyl radical. The role of structural effects on metal-ion induced C-H bond deactivation

Strong C-H bond deactivation toward HAT has been observed in the reactions of the cumyloxyl radical with 1,2- and 1,3-diols, following addition of Li⁺ and Ca²⁺. Weaker effects have been observed with Mg²⁺. The role of the substrate structure and of the metal ion in the formation of Lewis acid-base complexes is discussed.

Non-enzymatic browning kinetics in sucrose-glycine aqueous and dehydrated model systems in presence of MgCl2

The development of non-enzymatic browning in the presence of MgCl₂ was evaluated in liquid and dehydrated sucrose-glycine model systems, in relation to interactions of the salt with water and/or with sucrose. In both systems, browning was accelerated by the presence of MgCl₂ because of the increased sugar hydrolysis (ten times faster) and the reduction of water mobility (¹H NMR T₂ relaxation times) caused by this salt (between 6 and 14% lower), counteracting the inhibitory effect of water on the Maillard reaction. MgCl₂ also provoked a 40% reduction on the fluorophores quantum yield, responsible also of the fluctuations observed in the fluorescence development as a function of time after 50 h at 70 °C. Molecular and supramolecular effects of the presence of MgCl₂ have been observed on the Maillard reaction kinetics. These results are of high technological interest when strategies to control the Maillard reaction rate are required for a particular application.

The Experimental Evidence in Support of Glycosylation Mechanisms at the SN1-SN2 Interface

A critical review of the state-of-the-art evidence in support of the mechanisms of glycosylation reactions is provided. Factors affecting the stability of putative oxocarbenium ions as intermediates at the SN1 end of the mechanistic continuum are first surveyed before the evidence, spectroscopic and indirect, for the existence of such species on the time scale of glycosylation reactions is presented. Current models for diastereoselectivity in nucleophilic attack on oxocarbenium ions are then described. Evidence in support of the intermediacy of activated covalent glycosyl donors is reviewed, before the influences of the structure of the nucleophile, of the solvent, of temperature, and of donor-acceptor hydrogen bonding on the mechanism of glycosylation reactions are surveyed. Studies on the kinetics of glycosylation reactions and the use of kinetic isotope effects for the determination of transition-state structure are presented, before computational models are finally surveyed. The review concludes with a critical appraisal of the state of the art.

Stereoselective oxidative glycosylation of anomeric nucleophiles with alcohols and carboxylic acids

Oligosaccharides, one of the most abundant biopolymers, are involved in numerous biological processes. Although many efforts have been put in preparative carbohydrate chemistry, achieving optimal anomeric and regioselectivities remains challenging. Herein we describe an oxidative glycosylation method between anomeric stannanes and oxygen nucleophiles resulting in the formation of a C−O bond with consistently high anomeric control for glycosyl donors bearing a free C2-hydroxyl group. These reactions are promoted by hypervalent iodine reagents with catalytic or stoichiometric amounts of Cu or Zn salts. The generality of this transformation is demonstrated in 42 examples. Mechanistic studies indicate that the oxidative glycosylation is initiated by the hydroxyl-guided delivery of the hypervalent iodine and tosylate into the anomeric position, and results in excellent 1,2-trans selectivity. The unique mechanistic paradigm, high selectivities, and mild reaction conditions make this method suitable for the synthesis of oligosaccharides and for integration with other methodologies such as automated synthesis.

Glycosylation of partially protected sugars is usually limited by suboptimal regio- and stereo-selectivities. Here, the authors show a general oxidative glycosylation between anomeric stannanes with a nonprotected hydroxyl group and oxygen nucleophiles, additionally providing mechanistic insights into the origin of selectivity.

"One-Pot" Protection, Glycosylation, and Protection-Glycosylation Strategies of Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates, which are ubiquitously distributed throughout the three domains of life, play significant roles in a variety of vital biological processes. Access to unique and homogeneous carbohydrate materials is important to understand their physical properties, biological functions, and disease-related features. It is difficult to isolate carbohydrates in acceptable purity and amounts from natural sources. Therefore, complex saccharides with well-defined structures are often most conviently accessed through chemical syntheses. Two major hurdles, regioselective protection and stereoselective glycosylation, are faced by carbohydrate chemists in synthesizing these highly complicated molecules. Over the past few years, there has been a radical change in tackling these problems and speeding up the synthesis of oligosaccharides. This is largely due to the development of one-pot protection, one-pot glycosylation, and one-pot protection-glycosylation protocols and streamlined approaches to orthogonally protected building blocks, including those from rare sugars, that can be used in glycan coupling. In addition, new automated strategies for oligosaccharide syntheses have been reported not only for program-controlled assembly on solid support but also by the stepwise glycosylation in solution phase. As a result, various sugar molecules with highly complex, large structures could be successfully synthesized. To summarize these recent advances, this review describes the methodologies for one-pot protection and their one-pot glycosylation into the complex glycans and the chronological developments associated with automated syntheses of oligosaccharides.

Rapid phenolic O-glycosylation of small molecules and complex unprotected peptides in aqueous solvent

Glycosylated natural products and synthetic glycopeptides represent a significant and growing source of biochemical probes and therapeutic agents. However, methods that enable the aqueous glycosylation of endogenous amino acid functionality in peptides without the use of protecting groups are scarce. Here, we report a transformation that facilitates the efficient aqueous O-glycosylation of phenolic functionality in a wide range of small molecules, unprotected tyrosine, and tyrosine residues embedded within a range of complex, fully unprotected peptides. The transformation, which uses glycosyl fluoride donors and is promoted by Ca(OH)2, proceeds rapidly at room temperature in water, with good yields and selective formation of unique anomeric products depending on the stereochemistry of the glycosyl donor. High functional group tolerance is observed, and the phenol glycosylation occurs selectively in the presence of virtually all side chains of the proteinogenic amino acids with the singular exception of Cys. This method offers a highly selective, efficient, and operationally simple approach for the protecting-group-free synthesis of O-aryl glycosides and Tyr-O-glycosylated peptides in water.

Boronic-Acid-Catalyzed Regioselective and 1,2- cis-Stereoselective Glycosylation of Unprotected Sugar Acceptors via SNi-Type Mechanism

Regio- and 1,2- cis-stereoselective chemical glycosylation of unprotected glycosyl acceptors has been in great demand for the efficient synthesis of natural glycosides. However, simultaneously regulating these selectivities has been a longstanding problem in synthetic organic chemistry. In nature, glycosyl transferases catalyze regioselective 1,2- cis-glycosylations via the S_Ni mechanism, yet no useful chemical glycosylations based on this mechanism have been developed. In this paper, we report a highly regio- and 1,2- cis-stereoselective S_Ni-type glycosylation of 1,2-anhydro donors and unprotected sugar acceptors using p-nitrophenylboronic acid (10e) as a catalyst in the presence of water under mild conditions. Highly controlled regio- and 1,2- cis-stereoselectivities were achieved via the combination of boron-mediated carbohydrate recognition and the S_Ni-type mechanism. Mechanistic studies using the KIEs and DFT calculations were consistent with a highly dissociative concerted S_Ni mechanism. This glycosylation method was applied successfully to the direct glycosylation of unprotected natural glycosides and the efficient synthesis of a complex oligosaccharide with minimal protecting groups.