Highly selective synthesis of 1-N-iminosugars of the D-glucose and -glucuronic acid types

Molecular Basis for Inhibition of Heparanases and β-Glucuronidases by Siastatin B

Siastatin B is a potent and effective iminosugar inhibitor of three diverse glycosidase classes, namely, sialidases, β-d-glucuronidases, and N-acetyl-glucosaminidases. The mode of inhibition of glucuronidases, in contrast to sialidases, has long been enigmatic as siastatin B appears too bulky and incorrectly substituted to be accommodated within a β-d-glucuronidase active site pocket. Herein, we show through crystallographic analysis of protein-inhibitor complexes that siastatin B generates both a hemiaminal and a 3-geminal diol iminosugar (3-GDI) that are, rather than the parent compound, directly responsible for enzyme inhibition. The hemiaminal product is the first observation of a natural product that belongs to the noeuromycin class of inhibitors. Additionally, the 3-GDI represents a new and potent class of the iminosugar glycosidase inhibitor. To substantiate our findings, we synthesized both the gluco- and galacto-configured 3-GDIs and characterized their binding both structurally and kinetically to exo-β-d-glucuronidases and the anticancer target human heparanase. This revealed submicromolar inhibition of exo-β-d-glucuronidases and an unprecedented binding mode by this new class of inhibitor. Our results reveal the mechanism by which siastatin B acts as a broad-spectrum glycosidase inhibitor, identify a new class of glycosidase inhibitor, and suggest new functionalities that can be incorporated into future generations of glycosidase inhibitors.

Cyclodepsipeptide alveolaride C: total synthesis and structural assignment

First stereoselective total synthesis of naturally occurring bioactive cyclodepsipeptide alveolaride C has been achieved using a convergent approach. This synthetic study enabled us to establish unambiguously the stereochemistry of three unassigned chiral centres embedded in the nonpeptidic segment as well as revised the stereochemistry of the proposed β-phenylalanine counterpart of the molecule. The key strategic features of this synthesis include Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation for installing the vicinal diol moiety, Julia–Kocienski olefination for constructing the aliphatic side chain, the Shiina protocol for intermolecular esterification, amide coupling and macrolactamization for the ring formation.

First total synthesis of natural cyclodepsipeptide alveolaride C has been accomplished with an unambiguous solution to its structural riddle.

Substituent Position of Iminocyclitols Determines the Potency and Selectivity for Gut Microbial Xenobiotic-Reactivating Enzymes

Selective inhibitors of gut bacterial β-glucuronidases (GUSs) are of particular interest in the prevention of xenobiotic-induced toxicities. This study reports the first structure-activity relationships on potency and selectivity of several iminocyclitols (2-7) for the GUSs. Complex structures of Ruminococcus gnavus GUS with 2-7 explained how charge, conformation, and substituent of iminocyclitols affect their potency and selectivity. N1 of uronic isofagomine (2) made strong electrostatic interactions with two catalytic glutamates of GUSs, resulting in the most potent inhibition (K_i ≥ 11 nM). C6-propyl analogue of 2 (6) displayed 700-fold selectivity for opportunistic bacterial GUSs (K_i = 74 nM for E. coli GUS and 51.8 μM for RgGUS). In comparison with 2, there was 200-fold enhancement in the selectivity, which was attributed to differential interactions between the propyl group and loop 5 residues of the GUSs. The results provide useful insights to develop potent and selective inhibitors for undesired GUSs.

Glycosidase inhibition: assessing mimicry of the transition state

Glycoside hydrolases, the enzymes responsible for hydrolysis of the glycosidic bond in di-, oligo- and polysaccharides, and glycoconjugates, are ubiquitous in Nature and fundamental to existence. The extreme stability of the glycosidic bond has meant these enzymes have evolved into highly proficient catalysts, with an estimated 10(17) fold rate enhancement over the uncatalysed reaction. Such rate enhancements mean that enzymes bind the substrate at the transition state with extraordinary affinity; the dissociation constant for the transition state is predicted to be 10(-22) M. Inhibition of glycoside hydrolases has widespread application in the treatment of viral infections, such as influenza and HIV, lysosomal storage disorders, cancer and diabetes. If inhibitors are designed to mimic the transition state, it should be possible to harness some of the transition state affinity, resulting in highly potent and specific drugs. Here we examine a number of glycosidase inhibitors which have been developed over the past half century, either by Nature or synthetically by man. A number of criteria have been proposed to ascertain which of these inhibitors are true transition state mimics, but these features have only be critically investigated in a very few cases.

Asymmetrized tris(hydroxymethyl)methane as a precursor of N- and O-containing 6-membered heterocycles through ring-closing metathesis

A novel synthetic application of asymmetrized tris(hydroxymethyl)methane (THYM), obtained in both enantiomeric forms in high e.e. via a chemoenzymatic procedure, is described. Starting from the common precursor , N- and O-containing 6-membered heterocycles have been prepared exploiting ring-closing metathesis as the key step. Possible elaborations of the double bond in and have been explored and, in the case of , conversion into the glycosidase inhibitor isofagomine has been achieved.

Stereospecific synthesis of aldoses based on the epoxide-opening reaction with double inversion of the configuration

A new synthetic methodology for aldoses and aldonitols was developed in which two stereospecific epoxide-opening reactions with double inversion of the configuration, i.e., the ring-opening reaction of epoxy sulfides with phenylboronic acid and the stereospecific interconversion of trans- and cis-epoxy sulfides, were designed as the key steps. The synthetic potential of the new methodology was exemplified by the highly stereoselective synthesis of two pentose-derived sugars, arabitol and adonitol (ribitol).

The synthesis of a carbohydrate-like dihydrooxazine and tetrahydrooxazine as putative inhibitors of glycoside hydrolases: A direct synthesis of isofagomine

The treatment of benzyl 2,3-O-isopropylidene-β-L-xylopyranoside with N-hydroxyphthalimide under Mitsunobu conditions, followed by protecting-group interchange, gave benzyl 4-O-[(tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino]-2,3- O-isopropylidene-α-D-arabinoside. Mild acid hydrolysis and catalytic hydrogenolysis afforded 4-O-[(tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino]-D-arabinose that, upon heating in water, gave the dihydrooxazine [(4R,5S,6R)-5,6-dihydro-4,5-dihydroxy-6-hydroxymethyl-4H-1,2-oxazine] as a crystalline solid. A single-crystal structure determination of this solid showed it to exist in the 5H6 conformation. Reduction of the dihydrooxazine gave the tetrahydrooxazine [(4R,5S,6R)-4,5-dihydroxy-6-hydroxymethyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-2H-1,2-oxazine]. The dihydrooxazine was an effective inhibitor of two β-glucosidases (Ki = 27 and 35 µM). Benzyl 2,3-O-isopropylidene-β-L-xylopyranoside, via the derived imidazylate, was converted into a nitrile that, upon reduction and protecting-group manipulations, gave benzyl 4-C-aminomethyl-4-deoxy-α-D-arabinoside. Treatment of this amine with hydrogen and palladium-on-carbon gave isofagomine.Key words: dihydrooxazine, tetrahydrooxazine, isofagomine, iminosugars, glycosidase inhibitors.

Efficient synthesis of isofagomine and noeuromycin

Starting from D-arabinose the synthesis of the very strong glycosidase inhibitors isofagomine (2) and noeuromycin (3) was achieved in six and seven steps, respectively. Keystep in the reaction sequence is the application of an efficient C-4 oxidation method to benzyl alpha-D-arabino-pyranoside. Subsequent Henry reaction of the obtained aldoketose with nitromethane provided the required branched carbohydrate precursors, which gave access to 2 and 3 in 17-21% overall yield.

One-pot direct conversion of 2,3-epoxy alcohols into enantiomerically pure 4-hydroxy-4,5-dihydroisoxazole 2-oxides

[structure: see text]. A new methodology for the one-pot direct conversion of 2,3-epoxy alcohols into enantiomerically pure 4-hydroxy-4,5-dihydroisoxazole 2-oxides 1 has been found. The reaction works at room temperature and can be run at the 5-10 g scale. The mixture of 4,5-cis and 4,5-trans isomers obtained can be separated as such or as the bis-TDS ethers. A preliminary example of reductive cleavage of 1 to the corresponding amino polyol is also reported.