Synthesis of thio-linked disaccharides by 1-->2 intramolecular thioglycosyl migration: oxacarbenium versus episulfonium ion intermediates

Synthesis, structures and reactions of acylsulfenyl iodides with theoretical investigations

A series of acylsulfenyl iodides (RCOSI) were synthesized by the reactions of carbothioic acid group 11-16 element derivatives with iodine or N-iodosuccinimides in moderate to good yields. The structure of the PhCOSI was nearly square planar based on the X-ray analysis, where the C[double bond, length as m-dash]O⋯I distance (3.153(5) Å) was significantly shorter than the sum of the van der Waals radii of the atoms (Σr _vdW), indicating close contact within the molecule. The distances between an iodine atom and the neighbouring two iodine atoms were also less than Σr _vdW, perhaps due to the energy lowering effect of the interactions. The acylsulfenyl iodides readily reacted with alkenes and alkynes to give the expected addition products in moderate to good yields at approximately 0 °C. A new synthesis of acylated sulfines, sulfenamides and sulfenochalcogenides using acylsulfenyl iodides is also described. Theoretical calculations were performed on PhCOSI with the Sapporo-TZP(+1s1p) basis sets at the MP2 level, which perfectly reproduced the observed structures. Similar calculations were performed on the reactions, exemplified by those of MeCOSI and CH₂[double bond, length as m-dash]CH₂, together with those of MeSI and CH₂[double bond, length as m-dash]CH₂. Mechanisms for both reactions were proposed, which were very similar. The proposed mechanism for the former was understood based on that of the latter. For both mechanisms, the episulfuranes and episulfonium ions played an important role. The dynamic and static nature of the bonds in the COSI group of PhCOSI and MeCOSI were elucidated based on QTAIM dual functional analysis.

Novel triple mutant of an extremophilic glycosyl hydrolase enables the rapid synthesis of thioglycosides

In order to expand the toolbox of enzymes available for thioglycoside synthesis, we describe here the first example of an extremophilic glycosyl hydrolase from Halothermothrix orenii (HorGH1) engineered towards thioglycosynthase activity with a novel combination of mutations. Using the triple mutant, HorGH1 M299R/E166A/E354G, a range of thioglycosides from glycosyl fluoride donors and aromatic thiols could be synthesised with exquisite stereoselectivity and good to excellent conversions (61-93%).

Glycosyl disulfides: importance, synthesis and application to chemical and biological systems

This review explores methodologies for the preparation of glycosyl disulfides, their utility as intermediates in carbohydrate synthesis, and evaluates their biological impact in glycoscience and beyond.

Chemistry and Chemical Biology of Selenenyl Sulfides and Thioseleninic Acids

Significance: Selenenyl sulfides (RSeSRs) and thioseleninic acids (RSeSHs) are the monoselenium (Se) analogs of disulfides and persulfides that contain Se-S bonds. These bonds are found in several antioxidant-regenerating enzymes as derivatives of selenocysteine, making them an important player in redox biology as it pertains to sulfur redox regulation. Recent Advances: Mechanistic studies of redox-regulating selenoenzymes such as thioredoxin reductase and glutathione peroxidase suggest crucial Se-S bonds in the active sites. Peptide models and small-molecule mimics of these active sites have been prepared to study their fundamental chemistry. These advances help pave the road to better understand the functions of the Se-S bond in the body. Critical Issues: The Se-S bond is unstable at atmospheric temperatures and pressures. Therefore, studying their properties proposes a major challenge. Currently, there are no trapping reagents specific to RSeSRs or RSeSHs, making their presence, identity, and fates in biological environments difficult to track. Future Directions: Further understanding of the fundamental chemistry/biochemistry of RSeSRs and RSeSHs is needed to understand what their intracellular targets are and to what extent they impact signaling. Besides antioxidant regeneration and peroxide radical reduction, the roles of RSeSR and RSeSHs in other systems need to be further explored.

Protecting group migrations in carbohydrate chemistry

Protecting groups are valuable in chemo- and regioselective synthetic manipulations. In particular, they are indispensable in carbohydrate chemistry. Although a wide array of protecting groups are available at the disposal of carbohydrate chemists, their stability and orthogonality make the choice of protecting groups challenging. Another important factor is the migratory aptitude of different protecting groups used in carbohydrate chemistry. Migration of commonly used groups like silyl, acetal and acyl groups under various reaction conditions are discussed. Synthetic application of predicted migrations, alternate protecting groups to avoid migration and conditions favoring and disfavoring migrations are discussed in this review.

Discovery of processive catalysis by an exo-hydrolase with a pocket-shaped active site

Substrates associate and products dissociate from enzyme catalytic sites rapidly, which hampers investigations of their trajectories. The high-resolution structure of the native Hordeum exo-hydrolase HvExoI isolated from seedlings reveals that non-covalently trapped glucose forms a stable enzyme-product complex. Here, we report that the alkyl β-d-glucoside and methyl 6-thio-β-gentiobioside substrate analogues perfused in crystalline HvExoI bind across the catalytic site after they displace glucose, while methyl 2-thio-β-sophoroside attaches nearby. Structural analyses and multi-scale molecular modelling of nanoscale reactant movements in HvExoI reveal that upon productive binding of incoming substrates, the glucose product modifies its binding patterns and evokes the formation of a transient lateral cavity, which serves as a conduit for glucose departure to allow for the next catalytic round. This path enables substrate-product assisted processive catalysis through multiple hydrolytic events without HvExoI losing contact with oligo- or polymeric substrates. We anticipate that such enzyme plasticity could be prevalent among exo-hydrolases.

Enzyme substrates and products often diffuse too rapidly to assess the catalytic implications of these movements. Here, the authors characterise the structural basis of product and substrate diffusion for an exo-hydrolase and discover a substrate-product assisted processive catalytic mechanism.

Sulfur Transfer Versus Phenyl Ring Transfer in the Gas Phase: Sequential Loss of CH3OH and CH3O-P=O from Protonated Phosphorothioates

Collisional activation fragmentation of protonated phosphorothioates leads to skeletal rearrangement and formation of aryl sulfenylium cation (R-PhS⁺) via successive eliminations of CH₃OH and CH₃O-P=O. To better understand this unusual fragmentation reaction, isotope-labeling experiments and density functional theory (DFT) calculations were carried out to investigate two mechanistic pathways. In route 1, a direct intramolecular transfer of the R-phenyl group occurs from the oxygen atom to the sulfur atom on thiophosphoryl to form methoxyl S-(3-methyl-4-methylsulfanyl-phenyl) phosphonium thiolate (a4), which subsequently dissociates to form the m/z 169 cation. In route 2, the sulfur atom of the thiophosphoryl group undergoes two stepwise transfer (1,4-migration to the ortho-carbon atom of the phenyl ring followed by 1,2-migration to the ipso-carbon atom) to form an intermediate isomer, which undergoes the subsequent dissociation to form the m/z 169 cation. DFT calculations suggested that route 2 was more favorable than route 1 from the point view of kinetics. Graphical Abstract.

Stereoselective Epimerizations of Glycosyl Thiols

Glycosyl thiols are widely used in stereoselective S-glycoside synthesis. Their epimerization from 1,2-trans to 1,2-cis thiols (e.g., equatorial to axial epimerization in thioglucopyranose) was attained using TiCl₄, while SnCl₄ promoted their axial-to-equatorial epimerization. The method included application for stereoselective β-d-manno- and β-l-rhamnopyranosyl thiol formation. Complex formation explains the equatorial preference when using SnCl₄, whereas TiCl₄ can shift the equilibrium toward the 1,2-cis thiol via 1,3-oxathiolane formation.

d-Fructose-Decorated Poly(ethylene imine) for Human Breast Cancer Cell Targeting

The high affinity of GLUT5 transporter for d-fructose in breast cancer cells has been discussed intensely. In this contribution, high molar mass linear poly(ethylene imine) (LPEI) is functionalized with d-fructose moieties to combine the selectivity for the GLUT5 transporter with the delivery potential of PEI for genetic material. The four-step synthesis of a thiol-group bearing d-fructose enables the decoration of a cationic polymer backbone with d-fructose via thiol-ene photoaddition. The functionalization of LPEI is confirmed by 2D NMR techniques, elemental analysis, and size exclusion chromatography. Importantly, a d-fructose decoration of 16% renders the polymers water-soluble and eliminates the cytotoxicity of PEI in noncancer L929 cells, accompanied by a reduced unspecific cellular uptake of the genetic material. In contrast, the cytotoxicity as well as the cell specific uptake is increased for triple negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Therefore, the introduction of d-fructose shows superior potential for cell targeting, which can be assumed to be GLUT5 dependent.

Protecting group free synthesis of glycosyl thiols from reducing sugars in water; application to the production of N-glycan glycoconjugates

Un-protected 2-acetamido terminated reducing sugars may be converted into the corresponding glycosyl thiols in water, and conjugated to peptides using the thiol–ene click reaction without recourse to any protecting groups.

Base-promoted cascade reaction of isocyanides, selenium and amines: a practical approach to 2-aminobenzo[d][1,3]selenazines under metal-free conditions

An efficient method for the construction of 2-aminobenzo[d][1,3]selenazines under metal-free conditions was established.

Reactions of phenyl and ethyl 2-O-sulfonyl-1-thio-alpha-D-manno- and beta-D-glucopyranosides with thionucleophiles

Persubstituted derivatives of phenyl and ethyl 2-O-sulfonyl-1-thio-alpha-D-manno- and beta-D-glucopyranosides were synthesized and reacted either with PhSNa or with MeSNa. The phenyl-1-thio compounds afforded the dithio-1,2-cis-axial/equatorial-alpha-D-glucopyranosides or dithio-1,2-cis-equatorial/axial-beta-D-mannopyranosides by means of S(N)2 type of reactions. Starting from the ethyl-1-thio derivatives intramolecular 1,2-thio-migration took place predominantly. In the case of mannosides both nucleophilic reagents facilitate the formation of 1-SPh- or 1-SEt glycals by elimination. The formation of unsubstituted glycal could also be observed from the ethyl-1-thio derivatives, especially by using PhSNa as a nucleophile. The 1,2-dithio-glycosides are glycosyl donors affording 1,2-trans-2-thio-glycosides.

2,3-Anhydrosugars in glycoside bond synthesis. Application to 2,6-dideoxypyranosides

We describe here the first use of 2,3-anhydrosugars as glycosylating agents for the preparation of 2-deoxypyranosides. In particular, the methodology was used to assemble 2,6-dideoxysugar glycosides. Glycosylation of a panel of alcohols with one of two 6-deoxy-2,3-anhydrosugar thioglycosides (8 and 9) in the presence of a Lewis acid afforded 2,6-dideoxy-2-thiotolyl glycoside products in generally excellent yields with an exclusively syn relationship between the aglycon and the C-3 hydroxyl group. Removal of the 2-thiotolyl group can be achieved upon reaction with tri-n-butyltin hydride and AIBN to give the corresponding 2,6-dideoxy pyranosides. Once developed, the method was applied to the synthesis of oligosaccharide moieties in the natural products apoptolidin and olivomycin A.

Straightforward synthesis of thiodisaccharides by ring-opening of sugar epoxides

3,4-Anhydro hexopyranosides have been prepared by diastereoselective epoxidation of derivatives of 2-propyl 3,4-dideoxy-alpha-D-erythro-hex-3-enopyranoside (5), selectively protected at HO-2 and HO-6. The allylic group at C-2, in 5 and derivatives, plays a critical role in the facial selectivity of the epoxidation reaction. Thus, the free HO-2 in 3 (the 6-O-acetyl derivative of 5) directs the attack of m-chloroperbenzoic acid from the more hindered alpha face of the molecule to give 2-propyl 6-O-acetyl-3,4-anhydro-alpha-D-allopyranoside (7) accompanied by the beta epoxide 6 as a very minor product. Reverse diastereoselectivity has been obtained when the HO-2 in 3 was substituted by a bulky tert-butyldimethylsilyl (TBS) group. In this case, the major isomer was the 2-O-TBS derivative of 6 (alpha-D-galacto configuration). The ring-opening of sugar epoxides by nucleophilic per-O-acetyl-1-thio-beta-D-glucopyranose (11) was employed as a convenient approach to the synthesis of (1-->3)- and (1-->4)-thiodisaccharides. For example, ring-opening of the oxirane 7 by 11 led to the expected regioisomeric per-O-acetyl thiodisaccharides beta-D-Glc-S-(1-->3)-4-thio-alpha-D-Glc-O-iPr (12) and beta-D-Glc-S-(1-->4)-4-thio-alpha-D-Gul-O-iPr (13). Regioselectivity in the construction of the (1-->4)-thioglycosidic linkage could be achieved by hindering C-3 of the 3,4-anhydro sugar with a bulky silyloxy group at the vicinal C-2. For instance, coupling of the 2-O-TBS derivative of 7 with 11 led regioselectively to the protected thiodisaccharide beta-D-Glc-S-(1-->4)-4-thio-alpha-D-Glc-O-iPr (27). The utility of the approach was demonstrated through the synthesis of sulfur-linked analogues of naturally occurring (laminarabiose and cellobiose) and non-natural disaccharides (i.e., beta-D-Glc-(1-->4)-alpha-D-Gul).

Metal-catalyzed 1,2-shift of diverse migrating groups in allenyl systems as a new paradigm toward densely functionalized heterocycles

A general, mild, and efficient 1,2-migration/cycloisomerization methodology toward multisubstituted 3-thio-, seleno-, halo-, aryl-, and alkyl-furans and pyrroles, as well as fused heterocycles, valuable building blocks for synthetic chemistry, has been developed. Moreover, regiodivergent conditions have been identified for C-4 bromo- and thio-substituted allenones and alkynones for the assembly of regioisomeric 2-hetero substituted furans selectively. It was demonstrated that, depending on reaction conditions, ambident substrates can be selectively transformed into furan products, as well as undergo selective 6-exo-dig or Nazarov cyclizations. Our mechanistic investigations have revealed that the transformation proceeds via allenylcarbonyl or allenylimine intermediates followed by 1,2-group migration to the allenyl sp carbon during cycloisomerization. It was found that 1,2-migration of chalcogens and halogens predominantly proceeds via formation of irenium intermediates. Analogous intermediate can also be proposed for 1,2-aryl shift. Furthermore, it was shown that the cycloisomerization cascade can be catalyzed by Brønsted acids, albeit less efficiently, and commonly observed reactivity of Lewis acid catalysts cannot be attributed to the eventual formation of proton. Undoubtedly, thermally induced or Lewis acid-catalyzed transformations proceed via intramolecular Michael addition or activation of the enone moiety pathways, whereas certain carbophilic metals trigger carbenoid/oxonium type pathway. However, a facile cycloisomerization in the presence of cationic complexes, as well as observed migratory aptitude in the cycloisomerization of unsymmetrically disubstituted aryl- and alkylallenes, strongly supports electrophilic nature for this transformation. Full mechanistic details, as well as the scope of this transformation, are discussed.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel lipoamino acid-based glycolipids for oral drug delivery

A series of lipoamino acid-based glycolipids were synthesised. Suitably derivatised lipoamino acid derivatives were prepared and conjugated to monosaccharides (including glycosyl azides, isothiocyanates, thiols and sulphones) to yield novel O-, N-, S- and C-linked glycolipids in good yields. Their potential to improve the oral absorption of piperacillin is reported.

Catalytic properties of a mutant β-galactosidase fromXanthomonas manihotisengineered to synthesize galactosyl-thio-β-1,3 and -β-1,4-glycosides

The identity of the acid/base catalyst of the Family 35 beta-galactosidases from Xanthomonas manihotis (BgaX) has been confirmed as Glu184 by kinetic analysis of mutants modified at that position. The Glu184Ala mutant of BgaX is shown to function as an efficient thioglycoligase, which synthesises thiogalactosides with linkages to the 3 and 4 positions of glucosides and galactosides in high (>80%) yields. Kinetic analysis of the thioglycoligase reveals glycosyl donor K(m) values of 1.5-21 microM and glycosyl acceptor K(m) values from 180 to 500 microM. This mutant should be a valuable catalyst for the synthesis of metabolically stable analogues of this important glycosidic linkage.

Glycosyl Disulfides: Novel Glycosylating Reagents with Flexible Aglycon Alteration

[reaction: see text] Glycosyl disulfides have been shown for the first time to be effective glycosyl donors. Glucosylation and galactosylation of a panel of representative alcohol acceptors allowed the formation of 28 simple glycosides, disaccharides, and glycoamino acids in yields of up to 90%. As well as providing a novel class of effective glycosyl donors, the ability to easily alter the nature of the aglycon and the ability to differently activate donors that differ only in their aglycon simply through altering conditions lends glycosyl disulfide donors to their use in latent-active reactivity tuning strategies.

1,2-migration of 2'-oxoalkyl group and concomitant synthesis of 2-C-branched O-, S-glycosides and glycosyl azides via 1,2-cyclopropanated sugars

Treatment of 2'-oxoalkyl 2-O-Ms(Ts)-alpha-C-mannosides (4, 5, and 6) with base resulted in 1,2-cyclopropanation via an intramolecular SN2 reaction due to their 1,2-trans-diaxial configurations. The 1,2-cyclopropanated sugars (10 and 13) were reacted with various alcohols, thiols, and sodium azide to produce 2-C-branched O- and S-glycosides and glycosyl azides (11, 14-28) in good to excellent yields. In contrast, 1,2-cis 2'-oxoalkyl 2-O-Ms(Ts)-alpha-C-glucoside 9 formed an acyclic conjugated aldehyde (31) under basic conditions, which occurred by 1'-enolation followed by beta-elimination. An intramolecular Michael addition from 31 produced 2-O-Ms-beta-C-glucoside 30 as a major product. However, due to the electron-withdrawing effect exerted by 2-O-Ms compound 31 also undergoes a C2 epimerization to form 32. Thereafter, the intramolecular Michael addition led to the formation of both 1,2-trans 2'-oxoalkyl 2-O-Ms-alpha-C-mannoside 4 and its beta-anomer (33). Because beta-elimination/Michael addition and C2 epimerization are reversible reactions, equilibriums among 9, 31, 30, 32, 33, and 4 were established, which included the transformation of 1,2-cis C-glucoside 9 into 1,2-trans C-mannoside 4. The subsequent 1,2-cyclopropanation of 4 was an irreversible reaction yielding 1,2-cyclopropanated 10 and further conversion to 1,2-migration products (11 and 12).

Synthesis of a phenyl thio-β-d-galactopyranoside library from 1,5-difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene: discovery of efficient and selective monosaccharide inhibitors of galectin-7

The galectins are a family of [small beta]-galactoside-binding proteins that have been implicated in cancer and inflammation processes. Herein, we report the synthesis of a library of 28 compounds that was tested for binding to galectins-1, -3, -7, -8N and -9N. An aromatic nucleophilic substitution reaction between 1,5-difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and a galacto thiol gave 5-fluoro-2,4-dinitrophenyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-1-thio-beta-D-galactopyranoside. This versatile intermediate was then modified in a two dimensional manner: either by further substitution of the second fluoride by amines or thiols, or by reduction of the nitro groups and acylation of the resulting amines, or both. Deacetylation then gave a library of aromatic beta-galactosides that showed variable inhibitory activity against the different galectins, as shown by screening with a fluorescence-polarisation assay. Particularly efficient inhibitors were found against galectin-7, while less impressive enhancements of inhibitor affinity over methyl beta-D-galactopyranoside were found for galectin-1, -3, -8N and -9N. The best inhibitors against galectin-7 showed significantly higher affinity (K(d) as low as 140 microM) than both beta-methyl galactoside (K(d) 4.8 mM) and the unsubstituted beta-phenyl thiogalactoside (non-inhibitory). The best inhibitors against galectin-7 were poor against the other galectins and thus have potential as structurally simple and selective tools for dissecting biological functions of galectin-7.

Selenoimidoylation of Alcohols with Selenium and Isocyanides and Its Application to the Synthesis of Selenium-Containing Heterocycles

The reaction of alcohols with selenium and isocyanides in the presence of DBU gave oxyimidoylselenoates 6. Trapping of 6 with BuI resulted in high-yield formation of selenocarbonimidates 4. When alk-2-yn-1-ols 9 were allowed to react with selenium and isocyanides under similar conditions, new selenium-containing heterocycles 10, 2-imino-4-alkylidene-1,3-oxaselenolanes, were obtained via cycloaddition of oxyimidoylselenoates 13 generated in situ by intramolecular addition of selenolates to carbon-carbon triple bonds.