Is there a generalized reverse anomeric Effect? substituent and solvent effects on the configurational equilibria of neutral and protonated N-arylglucopyranosylamines and N-aryl-5-thioglucopyranosylamines

A True Reverse Anomeric Effect Does Exist After All: A Hydrogen Bonding Stereocontrolling Effect in 2-Iminoaldoses

The reverse anomeric effect is usually associated with the equatorial preference of nitrogen substituents at the anomeric center. Once postulated as another anomeric effect with explanations ranging from electrostatic interactions to delocalization effects, it is now firmly considered to be essentially steric in nature. Through an extensive research on aryl imines from 2-amino-2-deoxyaldoses, spanning nearly two decades, we realized that such substances often show an anomalous anomeric behavior that cannot easily be rationalized on the basis of purely steric grounds. The apparent preference, or stabilization, of the β-anomer takes place to an extent that not only neutralizes but also overcomes the normal anomeric effect. Calculations indicate that there is no stereoelectronic effect opposing the anomeric effect, resulting from the repulsion between electron lone pairs on the imine nitrogen and the endocyclic oxygen. Such data and compelling structural evidence unravel why the exoanomeric effect is largely inhibited. We are now confident, as witnessed by 2-iminoaldoses, that elimination of the exo-anomeric effect in the α-anomer is due to the formation of an intramolecular hydrogen bond between the anomeric hydroxyl and the iminic nitrogen, thereby accounting for a true electronic effect. In addition, discrete solvation may help justify the observed preference for the β-anomer.

Recent Progress in 1,2-cis glycosylation for Glucan Synthesis

Controlling the stereoselectivity of 1,2-cis glycosylation is one of the most challenging tasks in the chemical synthesis of glycans. There are various 1,2-cis glycosides in nature, such as α-glucoside and β-mannoside in glycoproteins, glycolipids, proteoglycans, microbial polysaccharides, and bioactive natural products. In the structure of polysaccharides such as α-glucan, 1,2-cis α-glucosides were found to be the major linkage between the glucopyranosides. Various regioisomeric linkages, 1→3, 1→4, and 1→6 for the backbone structure, and 1→2/3/4/6 for branching in the polysaccharide as well as in the oligosaccharides were identified. To achieve highly stereoselective 1,2-cis glycosylation, including α-glucosylation, a number of strategies using inter- and intra-molecular methodologies have been explored. Recently, Zn salt-mediated cis glycosylation has been developed and applied to the synthesis of various 1,2-cis linkages, such as α-glucoside and β-mannoside, via the 1,2-cis glycosylation pathway and β-galactoside 1,4/6-cis induction. Furthermore, the synthesis of various structures of α-glucans has been achieved using the recent progressive stereoselective 1,2-cis glycosylation reactions. In this review, recent advances in stereoselective 1,2-cis glycosylation, particularly focused on α-glucosylation, and their applications in the construction of linear and branched α-glucans are summarized.

On the anomeric preference of the isothiocyanato group

Anomeric effect of the isothiocyanato group has been quantified for the first time in xylopyranose triacetates; both anomers being synthesized.

Leveraging Stereoelectronic Effects in Biofilm Eradication: Synthetic β-Amino Human Milk Oligosaccharides Impede Microbial Adhesion As Observed by Scanning Electron Microscopy

Alongside Edward, Lemieux was among the earliest researchers studying negative hyperconjugation (i.e., the anomeric effect) or the preference for gauche conformations about the C1-O5 bond in carbohydrates. Lemieux also studied an esoteric, if not controversial, theory known as the reverse anomeric effect (RAE). This theory is used to rationalize scenarios where predicted anomeric stabilization does not occur. One such example is the Kochetkov amination where reducing end amines exist solely as the β-anomer. Herein, we provide a brief account of Lemieux's contributions to the field of stereoelectronics and apply this knowledge toward the synthesis of β-amino human milk oligosaccharides (βΑ-HMOs). These molecules were evaluated for their ability to inhibit growth and biofilm production in Group B Streptococcus (GBS) and Staphylococcus aureus. While the parent HMOs lacked antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity, their β-amino derivatives significantly inhibited biofilm formation in both species. Field emission gun-scanning single electron microscopy (FEG-SEM) revealed that treatment with β-amino HMOs significantly inhibits bacterial adherence and eliminates the ability of both microbes to form biofilms.

Mechanisms of Stereodirecting Participation and Ester Migration from Near and Far in Glycosylation and Related Reactions

This review is the counterpart of a 2018 Chemical Reviews article (Adero, P. O.; Amarasekara, H.; Wen, P.; Bohé, L.; Crich, D. Chem. Rev. 2018, 118, 8242-8284) that examined the mechanisms of chemical glycosylation in the absence of stereodirecting participation. Attention is now turned to a critical review of the evidence in support of stereodirecting participation in glycosylation reactions by esters from either the vicinal or more remote positions. As participation by esters is often accompanied by ester migration, the mechanism(s) of migration are also reviewed. Esters are central to the entire review, which accordingly opens with an overview of their structure and their influence on the conformations of six-membered rings. Next the structure and relative energetics of dioxacarbeniun ions are covered with emphasis on the influence of ring size. The existing kinetic evidence for participation is then presented followed by an overview of the various intermediates either isolated or characterized spectroscopically. The evidence supporting participation from remote or distal positions is critically examined, and alternative hypotheses for the stereodirecting effect of such esters are presented. The mechanisms of ester migration are first examined from the perspective of glycosylation reactions and then more broadly in the context of partially acylated polyols.

Theoretical and NMR-based Conformational Analysis of Phosphodiester-linked Disaccharides

The conformational behaviour of three phosphate-bridged dimannosides was studied by means of NMR and computational molecular modelling. First, the conformations of the phosphodiester linker were determined by quantum chemistry methods using dimethyl phosphate as a model. Then, a series of conformations was constructed for each of the studied molecules. Preliminary molecular dynamics (MD) simulations revealed that the inclusion of a cation had a drastic influence on the obtained results. Additionally, triethylammonium had the same effect as sodium as the counter-ion. After that, another series of MD simulations was run. The resulting MD trajectories were used to define the conformations responsible for the observed nuclear Overhauser effects and inter-nuclear coupling.

The Problem of Origins and Origins of the Problem: Influence of Language on Studies Concerning the Anomeric Effect

Cause and effect: In science, language is often subordinated to empirical data, but words can influence our ability to understand and communicate science. This Essay argues that imprecise language has confounded studies that probe the interactions underlying the anomeric effect and related phenomena.

Syntheses of sugar poly(orthoesters) through reverse anomeric effect

The syntheses of high molecular weight sugar poly(orthoesters) were achieved by using reverse anomeric effect (RAE)-enabled promoters.

Stereoselective glycosylations of 2-azido-2-deoxy-glucosides using intermediate sulfonium ions

TMSOTf-promoted glycosylations of 2-azido-2-deoxy-glucosyl trichloroacetimidates provide excellent alpha-anomeric selectivities when performed at a relatively high reaction temperature in the presence of PhSEt or thiophene. NMR and computation studies have shown that these glycosylations proceed through an equatorial anomeric sulfonium ion, which upon displacement by a sugar alcohol provides an axial glycoside. Computational studies have indicated that steric factors determine the selective formation of the beta-anomeric sulfonium ion.

De novo asymmetric synthesis of homoadenosine via a palladium-catalyzed N-glycosylation

[reaction: see text] A highly stereoselective synthesis of l-2-deoxy-beta-ribo-hexopyranosyl nucleosides from 6-chloropurine and Boc-protected pyranone has been developed. Our approach relies on the iterative application of a palladium-catalyzed N-glycosylation, diastereoselective reduction, and reductive 1,3-transposition. This strategy is amenable to prepare various natural and unnatural hexopyranosyl nucleosides analogues.

Anomeric effects versus steric hindrance to ionic solvation in protonated glucosylanilines and cyclohexylanilines

The so-called reverse anomeric effect is the preference of cationic substituents for the equatorial position on a pyranose ring, but it is not consistent with current theories of molecular structure or with previous studies designed to test it. To probe this further, the N-protonation-induced shifts of the anomeric equilibrium in a series of N-(tetra-O-methylglucopyranosyl)anilines have been measured with high precision through an NMR titration method that compares basicities of alpha and beta anomers in a mixture of the two. For comparison, the N-protonation-induced shifts of the cis/trans equilibrium in N-(4-tert-butylcyclohexyl)anilines have also been measured by this same method. In both series, there is a shift of the equilibrium toward equatorial upon N-protonation, consistent with steric hindrance to ionic solvation. This shift is smaller for the glucosylanilines than for the cyclohexylanilines, consistent with an enhancement of the normal anomeric effect that counters the steric hindrance and reduces the shift toward the equatorial beta anomer. Moreover, the shift toward equatorial increases slightly but detectably with electron-withdrawing substituents on the cyclohexylaniline, which fine-tune the steric hindrance to ionic solvation. In contrast, the shift decreases for the glucosylanilines. This is consistent with an enhancement of the normal anomeric effect due to a more localized positive charge, rather than with a reverse anomeric effect. These results thus define the substituent dependence of the anomeric effect.

An examination of the purported reverse anomeric effect beyond acetylated N-xylosyl- and N-glucosylimidazoles

Syntheses of six new N-(pentopyranosyl)imidazoles have been achieved, and their conformations were observed with and without protonation. A decisive decrease in J(5',4), consistent with stabilization of the 1C4 conformations, was clearly observed for three N-(pentopyranosyl)imidazoles. As well, no reverse anomeric stabilization was observed for N-(2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-alpha-D-lyxopyranosyl)imidazole upon protonation. It is suggested that the previous observations of the reverse anomeric effect were due to the slight increase in steric bulk of the imidazole aglycone upon protonation, along with favorable dipolar interactions between ring substituents, and not by a reverse of the anomeric effect.

Conformational preferences in glycosylamines. implications for the exo-anomeric effect

The conformational preferences about the C-N bond in N-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-alpha (1) and beta-D-glucopyranosylamine (2), in the solid state and in solution, have been investigated. The crystal structure of the axially substituted alpha anomer (1) indicates a conformational preference about the C-1-N bond in which nN-->sigma*C-O exo-anomeric interactions may be expressed, although this conformational preference is not displayed in solution. The solution conformation relieves steric interactions that result from expression of the exo-anomeric effect in the solid-state conformation. The conformational preference in the equatorially substituted beta anomer (2) both in solution and in the solid state is similar and permits expression of nN-->sigma*C-O exo-anomeric interactions. The structural data for 1 and 2 indicate significant differences in O-5-C-1-N-1 bond angles but insignificant differences in each of the O-5-C-1 or C-1-N-1 bond lengths. The J(C-1-H-1 coupling constants in 1 and 2 indicate a greater coupling constant for the alpha anomer that is consistent with a dominant nO-->sigma*C-H orbital interaction in the beta anomer that weakens the C-1-H-1 bond.