Total Synthesis of Carba-d-fructofuranose via a Novel Metathesis Reaction

Recent Advances in the Synthesis of the Carbocyclic Nucleosides as Potential Antiviral Agents

Compared with 4′-oxonucleosides, there have been far fewer systematic structure-activity relationship studies on carbocyclic nucleosides as antiviral and antitumour agents. This is mainly because of the synthetic problems in preparing the carbasugars. However, the recent discovery of the ring-closing metathesis (RCM) (a powerful tool for the preparation of 5-membered carbasugar via C-C bond formation) has made it possible to synthesize the key carbasugars to a preparative scale. This review summarizes the asymmetric syntheses of carbasugars and carbocyclic nucleosides, using an RCM reaction as a key step. Furthermore, the review includes valuable information for designing and synthesizing novel carbocyclic nucleosides.

A common and versatile synthetic route to (-) and (+) pentenomycin I, (+) halopentenomycin I and dehydropentenomycin

A versatile and stereoselective total synthesis of (+) and (-) pentenomycin I, (+) halopentenomycins I and dehydropentenomycin from a common chiral polyhydroxylated cyclopentene through oxidation and protection/deprotection has been described. Stereoselective hydroxymethylation, stereoselective Grignard reaction and ring closing metathesis are the key features of our approach.

A greener enantioselective synthesis of the antiviral agent North-methanocarbathymidine (N-MCT) from 2-deoxy-d-ribose

An enantioselective synthesis of suitably protected (1R,2S,4S,5S)-4-amino-1-(hydroxymethyl)bicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-2-ol, a key starting material for the synthesis of conformationally locked carbocyclic nucleosides, including the antiviral active North-methanocarba thymidine, is reported. Starting from 2-deoxyribose the target Boc-protected amine was prepared in 33% overall yield under condition that are ecologically friendlier than previous methods.

Synthesis of cyclopentenyl carbocyclic nucleosides as potential antiviral agents against orthopoxviruses and SARS

A practical and convenient methodology for the synthesis of chiral cyclopentenol derivative (+)-12a has been developed as the key intermediate that was utilized for the synthesis of biologically active carbocyclic nucleosides. The selective protection of allylic hydroxyl group followed by the ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reaction with Grubbs catalysts provided (+)-12a on a 10 g scale with 52% overall yield from D-ribose (4). The key intermediate (+)-12a was utilized for the synthesis of unnatural five-membered ring heterocyclic carbocyclic nucleosides. The newly synthesized 1,2,3-triazole analogue (17c) exhibited potent antiviral activity (EC(50) 0.4 microM) against vaccinia virus and moderate activities (EC(50) 39 microM) against cowpox virus and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARSCoV) (EC(50) 47 microM). The 1,2,4-triazole analogue (17a) also exhibited moderate antiviral activity (EC(50) 21 microM) against SARSCoV.

Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (1R,3S,4R,5R)-1-Amino-4,5-dihydroxycyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic Acid. A Full-Aldol Access to Carbaketose Derivatives

The enantioselective synthesis of cyclopentanedicarboxylic amino acid 1, a novel rigid and functionalized L-glutamic acid analogue, has been achieved in 15 linear steps from silyloxypyrrole 3, utilizing L-glyceraldehyde 4 as the source of chirality. The key steps in the synthesis are three sequential aldol-based carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions: two crossed vinylogous aldol additions (2 + 3 --> 8 and 4 + 5 --> 10 + 11) and one intramolecular silylative aldolization (6 --> 7). En passant, the short syntheses of (2S)-2-hydroxymethylglutamic acid (16) and its (2R)-enantiomer ent-16, a potent metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist, have been achieved.

An Approach to Pancratistatins via Ring-Closing Metathesis: Efficient Synthesis of Novel 1-Aryl-1-deoxyconduritols F

Structurally novel cyclitols, 1-aryl-1-deoxyconduritols F, were efficiently prepared from d-xylose, utilizing RCM as a key step. Various aromatic residues were incorporated in the cyclitol skeleton with total stereochemical control, utilizing a diastereoselective aryl cuprate addition to a gamma-alkoxy enoate. The synthetic route establishes a firm foundation for a practical synthesis of the antitumor alkaloid pancratistatin and its aryl analogues. [structure: see text]

Synthesis and conformational investigation of methyl 4a-carba-D-arabinofuranosides

The synthesis of carbasugar analogues of methyl alpha-D-arabinofuranoside and methyl beta-D-arabinofuranoside (3 and 4) is reported. The route developed involves the conversion of D-mannose into a suitably protected diene (13), which is then cyclized via olefin metathesis. The resulting cyclopentene (14) is stereoselectively hydrogenated to provide an intermediate that can be used for the synthesis of both targets. Through the use of NMR spectroscopy, we have probed the ring conformation of 3 and 4, as well as the rotamer populations about the C(4)-C(5) and C(1)-O(1) bonds. These studies have demonstrated that there are differences in ring conformation between these carbasugars and their glycoside parents (1 and 2). However, only minor differences are seen in the rotameric equilibrium about the C(4)-C(5) bond in 3 and 4 relative to 1 and 2. In regard to the C(1)-O(1) bond, NOE data from 3 and 4 suggest that the favored position about this bond is similar to that in the glycosides; that is, the methyl group is anti to C(2). However, confirmation of this preference through measurement of (3)J(C,C) between the methyl group and C(2) or C(4a) was not successful.

Total synthesis of both methyl 4a-carba-D-arabinofuranosides

[reaction: see text] The total synthesis of methyl 4a-carba-alpha-D-arabinofuranoside (1) and methyl 4a-carba-beta-D-arabinofuranoside (2) has been achieved starting from D-mannose (5). Key transformations included a ring-closing metathesis of diene 11 employing Schrock's catalyst followed by a stereoselective hydrogenation with Wilkinson's catalyst.