Selective Cleavage of Methoxy Protecting Groups in Carbohydrates

Design, Synthesis and Biological Activity of Novel Methoxy- and Hydroxy-Substituted N-Benzimidazole-Derived Carboxamides

This work presents the design, synthesis and biological activity of novel N-substituted benzimidazole carboxamides bearing either a variable number of methoxy and/or hydroxy groups. The targeted carboxamides were designed to investigate the influence of the number of methoxy and/or hydroxy groups, the type of substituent placed on the N atom of the benzimidazole core and the type of substituent placed on the benzimidazole core on biological activity. The most promising derivatives with pronounced antiproliferative activity proved to be N-methyl-substituted derivatives with hydroxyl and methoxy groups at the phenyl ring and cyano groups on the benzimidazole nuclei with selective activity against the MCF-7 cell line (IC50 = 3.1 μM). In addition, the cyano-substituted derivatives 10 and 11 showed strong antiproliferative activity against the tested cells (IC50 = 1.2-5.3 μM). Several tested compounds showed significantly improved antioxidative activity in all three methods compared to standard BHT. In addition, the antioxidative activity of 9, 10, 32 and 36 in the cells generally confirmed their antioxidant ability demonstrated in vitro. However, their antiproliferative activity was not related to their ability to inhibit oxidative stress nor to their ability to induce it. Compound 8 with two hydroxy and one methoxy group on the phenyl ring showed the strongest antibacterial activity against the Gram-positive strain E. faecalis (MIC = 8 μM).

Exploiting photoredox catalysis for carbohydrate modification through C–H and C–C bond activation

Photoredox catalysis has recently emerged as a powerful synthetic platform for accessing complex chemical structures through non-traditional bond disconnection strategies that proceed through free-radical intermediates. Such synthetic strategies have been used for a range of organic transformations; however, in carbohydrate chemistry they have primarily been applied to the generation of oxocarbenium ion intermediates in the ubiquitous glycosylation reaction. In this Review, we present more intricate light-induced synthetic strategies to modify native carbohydrates through homolytic C-H and C-C bond cleavage. These strategies allow access to glycans and glycoconjugates with profoundly altered carbohydrate skeletons, which are challenging to obtain through conventional synthetic means. Carbohydrate derivatives with such structural motifs represent a broad class of natural products integral to numerous biochemical processes and can be found in active pharmaceutical substances. Here we present progress made in C-H and C-C bond activation of carbohydrates through photoredox catalysis, focusing on the operational mechanisms and the scope of the described methodologies.

The Awakening of a Sleeping Beauty: The ortho Photocycloaddition in the Total Synthesis of Protoilludane- and Prezizaene-Type ­Sesquiterpenes

Photochemical cascade (domino) reactions provide a unique opportunity for the construction of complex molecular architectures. Specifically, an intramolecular ortho photocycloaddition of 7-(alkenyloxy)-indanones triggers a sequence of consecutive reactions that can lead in a single operation to the complete skeleton of two important classes of sesquiterpenes: protoilludanes and prezizaenes. In the former case, two transformations follow the initial photocycloaddition, while in the latter case, there are three consecutive transformations, two of which are initiated by a photon. Remarkably, the reaction cascades proceed with exquisite diastereoselectivity, generating three (protoilludane) or five (prezizaene) stereogenic centers with defined relative configurations.

1 Introduction

2 First Encounter and Initial Studies

3 Protoilludane-Type Sesquiterpenes

4 Prezizaene-Type Sesquiterpenes

5 Enantioselectivity

6 Perspective and Summary

Towards better syntheses of partially methylated carbohydrates?

We give an overview of the reported synthetic strategies towards partially methylated glycosides and discuss how better protocols could stem from catalytic site-selective transformations of carbohydrates and cleaner methylation reagents.

Intramolecular Metal-Free C(sp3)-H Activation Enables a Selective Mono O-Debenzylation of Fully Protected Aminosugars

Carbamate-bearing benzylated aminosugars undergo an I₂/I(III)-promoted intramolecular hydrogen atom transfer (IHAT) followed by a nucleophilic attack to provide polycyclic structures. Thus, suitably positioned benzyl ethers are surgically oxidized into the corresponding mixed N/O-benzylidene acetals, which can be conveniently deprotected under mild acidic conditions to grant access to selectively O-deprotected aminosugars amenable for further derivatization. The scope of this strategy has been proven with a series of furanosic and pyranosic scaffolds. Preliminary mechanistic studies, including Hammett LFER and KIE analyses, support a reaction pathway with nucleophilic cyclization as the rate-determining step.

Concise Total Synthesis of Agarozizanol B via a Strained Photocascade Intermediate

The prezizane-type sesquiterpene agarozizanol B was synthesized employing a photochemical cascade reaction as the key step. Starting from a readily available 1-indanone with a tethered olefin, a strained tetracyclic skeleton was assembled which contained all carbon atoms of the sesquiterpene with the correct relative configuration. The conversion into the tricyclic prezizane skeleton was accomplished by a strategic cyclopropane bond cleavage. Prior to the cyclopropane ring opening an adaption of the oxidation state was required, which could be combined with a reductive resolution step. After removal of two functional groups, the natural product was obtained both in racemic form or, if resolved, as the (+)-enantiomer which was shown to be identical to the natural product.

Selective demethylation of O-aryl glycosides by iridium-catalyzed hydrosilylation

The cleavage of alkyl ethers by hydrosilylation is a powerful synthetic tool for the generation of silyl ethers. Previous attempts to apply this transformation to carbohydrate derivatives have been constrained by poor selectivity and preferential reduction of the anomeric position. O-Aryl glycosides are found to be stable under iridium- and borane-catalyzed hydrosilylation conditions, allowing for alkyl ether cleavage without loss of anomeric functionality. A cationic bis(phosphine)iridium complex catalyzes the selective 3-demethylation of a variety of 2,3,4-tri-O-methyl pyranoses, offering a unique approach to 3-hydroxy or 3-acetyl 2,4-di-O-methylpyranoses.

Radical Dehydroxymethylative Fluorination of Carbohydrates and Divergent Transformations of the Resulting Reverse Glycosyl Fluorides

A mild and convenient method for the synthesis of reverse glycosyl fluorides (RGFs) has been developed that is based on the silver-promoted radical dehydroxymethylative fluorination of carbohydrates. A salient feature of the reaction is that furanoid and pyranoid carbohydrates furnish structurally diverse RGFs bearing a wide variety of functional groups in good to excellent yields. Intramolecular hydrogen atom transfer experiments revealed that the reaction involves an underexploited radical fluorination that proceeds via β-fragmentation of sugar-derived primary alkoxyl radicals. Structurally divergent RGFs were obtained by catalytic C-F bond activation, and our method thus offers a concise and efficient strategy for the synthesis of reverse glycosides by late-stage diversification of RGFs. The potential of this method is showcased by the preparation and diversification of sotagliflozin, leading to the discovery of a promising SGLT2 inhibitor candidate.

Concise Access to the Skeleton of Protoilludane Sesquiterpenes through a Photochemical Reaction Cascade: Total Synthesis of Atlanticone C

In a single photochemical operation (λ≥350 nm) an easily accessible indanone derivative was converted into a structurally complex precursor of the protoilludane sesquiterpenes. The product (60 % yield) contains all 15 carbon atoms of the skeleton in the required connectivity and was transformed into the natural product atlanticone C (9 steps, 6 % overall yield). In addition, it was shown that other protoilludanes, such as Δ⁶ -protoilludene and paesslerin A, can be prepared in a concise fashion via the photochemical key intermediate. The photochemical reaction cascade comprises an ortho photocycloaddition, a thermal disrotatory ring opening and a regioselective disrotatory [4π] photocyclization.

Transition-Metal-Free Synthesis of C-Glycosylated Phenanthridines via K2S2O8-Mediated Oxidative Radical Decarboxylation of Uronic Acids

We have developed an efficient protocol for the synthesis of C-glycosylated phenanthridines. Tetrafuranos-4-yl and pentapyranos-5-yl radicals, generated from K₂S₂O₈-mediated oxidative decarboxylation of furan- and pyranuronic acids, undergo attack to 2-isocyanodiphenyls and ensuing homolytic aromatic substitution to provide diverse C-glycosylated phenanthridines in satisfactory yields without resort to transition metals. This reaction tolerates various functional groups, and enables ready synthesis of complex oligosaccharide-based phenanthridines. The C-glycosylated phenanthridine derived from β-cyclodextrin has been prepared, which might be potential in medicinal and biological chemistry due to its flexible conformation.

Orthogonal protection of saccharide polyols through solvent-free one-pot sequences based on regioselective silylations

tert-Butyldimethylsilyl (TBDMS) and tert-butyldiphenylsilyl (TBDPS) are alcohol protecting groups widely employed in organic synthesis in view of their compatibility with a wide range of conditions. Their regioselective installation on polyols generally requires lengthy reactions and the use of high boiling solvents. In the first part of this paper we demonstrate that regioselective silylation of sugar polyols can be conducted in short times with the requisite silyl chloride and a very limited excess of pyridine (2-3 equivalents). Under these conditions, that can be regarded as solvent-free conditions in view of the insolubility of the polyol substrates, the reactions are faster than in most examples reported in the literature, and can even be further accelerated with a catalytic amount of tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB). The strategy proved also useful for either the selective TBDMS protection of secondary alcohols or the fast per-O-trimethylsilylation of saccharide polyols. In the second part of the paper the scope of the silylation approach was significantly extended with the development of unprecedented "one-pot" and "solvent-free" sequences allowing the regioselective silylation/alkylation (or the reverse sequence) of saccharide polyols in short times. The developed methodologies represent a very useful and experimentally simple tool for the straightforward access to saccharide building-blocks useful in organic synthesis.

Radical-Mediated C-H Functionalization: A Strategy for Access to Modified Cyclodextrins

A simple and efficient radical C-H functionalization to access modified cyclodextrins (CDs) has been developed. The well-defined conformation of glycosidic and aglyconic bonds in α-, β-, and γ-CDs favors the intramolecular 1,8-hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) promoted by the 6^I-O-yl radical, which abstracts regioselectively the hydrogen at C5^II of the contiguous pyranose. The C5^II-radical evolves by a polar crossover mechanism to a stable 1,3,5-trioxocane ring between two adjacent glucoses or alternatively triggers the inversion of one α-d-glucose into a 5-C-acetoxy-β-l-idose unit possessing a ¹C₄ conformation. The 6^I,IV- and 6^I,III-diols of α- and β-CDs behave similarly to the monoalcohols, forming mostly compounds originating from two 1,8-HAT consecutive processes. In the case of 6^I,II-diols the proximity of the two 6-O-yl radicals in adjacent sugar units allows the formation of unique lactone rings within the CD framework via a 1,8-HAT-β-scission tandem mechanism. X-ray diffraction carried out on the crystalline 1,4-bis(trioxocane)-α-CD derivative shows a severe distortion toward a narrower elliptical shape for the primary face.

sp3 C–H oxidation by remote H-radical shift with oxygen- and nitrogen-radicals: a recent update

This review updates on recent advances in aliphatic sp³ C–H bond oxidation by remote H-radical abstraction with oxygen- and nitrogen-radicals classifying by the type of the radical precursors.

Two-step synthesis of per-O-acetylfuranoses: optimization and rationalization

A simple two-step procedure yielding peracetylated furanoses directly from free aldoses was implemented. Key steps of the method are (i) highly selective formation of per-O-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)furanoses and (ii) their clean conversion into acetyl ones without isomerization. This approach was easily applied to galactose and structurally related carbohydrates such as arabinose, fucose, methyl galacturonate and N-acetylgalactosamine to give the corresponding peracetylated targets. The success of this procedure relied on the control of at least three parameters: (i) the tautomeric equilibrium of the starting unprotected oses, (ii) the steric hindrance of both targeted furanoses and silylating agent, and finally, (iii) the reactivity of each soft nucleophile during the protecting group interconversion.

Selective methoxy ether cleavage of 2,6-dimethoxyphenol followed by a selective acylation

A Friedel-Crafts reaction of 2,6-dimethoxyphenol in the presence of aluminum chloride and propanoyl or butanoyl chlorid, respectively, lead, at elevated temperatures, to a selective cleavage of one of the methoxy groups followed by a selective acylation of the meta position with respect to the phenolic hydroxyl group. Under the same reaction conditions 2-methoxyphenol doesn't get demethylated; a mechanism to account for these findings is proposed. This reaction gives access to a variety of ortho-acylated catechols. Substituted catechols are widely used in supramolecular chemistry and are precursors of pesticides, flavors and fragrances. Additionally, catechol moieties are found in various natural products.