Synthesis of 4-thiol-furanosidic uronate via hydrothiolation reaction

Uronic acids are not only important building blocks of polysaccharides and oligosaccharides but also are widely used in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Inspired by the structure of natural products, here, we disclosed base-mediated and radical-mediated hydrothiolation reactions for the preparation of thiol-contained uronates. In comparison with base-mediated reaction, radical-mediated hydrothiolation is inefficient due to the electron-withdrawing group on the ethylene group; nevertheless, the adduct had excellent stereoselectivity at both C-4 and C-5 positions. For the alkaline approach, thiols as nucleophiles can regioselectively and stereoselectively attach to the C-4 position of Δ-^4,5-unsaturated uronate with moderate to good yields. However, poor stereoselectivity at the C-5 position was observed due to retro thiol-Michael addition. After removing the protecting group of the thiol, the thiol adduct was isomerized to the furanosidic form and the 4-thiol-furanosidic uronate derivative was synthesized for the first time.

Uronic acids are not only important building blocks of bioactive molecules but also are widely used in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Its derivative, 4-thiol-furanosidic uronate was successfully synthesized and firstly reported here.

Synthesis and oligomerization of cysteinyl nucleosides

Nucleoside and nucleic acid analogues are known to possess a considerable therapeutic potential. In this work, by coupling cysteine to nucleosides, we successfully synthesized compounds that may not only have interesting biological properties in their monomeric form, but can be used beyond that, for oligomerization, in order to produce new types of synthetic nucleic acids. We elaborated different strategies for the synthesis of cysteinyl nucleosides as monomers of cysteinyl nucleic acids using nucleophilic substitution or thiol-ene coupling as a synthetic tool, and utilised on two complementary nucleosides, uridine and adenosine. Dipeptidyl dinucleosides and pentameric cysteinyl uridine were prepared from the monomeric building blocks, which are the first members of a new class of peptide nucleic acids containing the entire ribofuranosyl nucleoside units bound to the peptide backbone.

Straightforward synthesis of protected 2-hydroxyglycals by chlorination-dehydrochlorination of carbohydrate hemiacetals

A straightforward and scalable method for the synthesis of protected 2-hydroxyglycals is described. The approach is based on the chlorination of carbohydrate-derived hemiacetals, followed by an elimination reaction to establish the glycal moiety. 1,2-dehydrochlorination reactions were studied on a range of glycosyl chlorides to provide suitable reaction conditions for this transformation. Benzyl ether, isopropylidene and benzylidene protecting groups, as well as interglycosidic linkage, were found to be compatible with this protocol. The described method is operationally simple and allows for the quick preparation of 2-hydroxyglycals with other than ester protecting groups, providing a feasible alternative to existing methods.

Photoinitiated Thiol-ene Reactions of Enoses: A Powerful Tool for Stereoselective Synthesis of Glycomimetics with Challenging Glycosidic Linkages

Thioglycosides and C-glycosides represent pharmacologically useful classes of glycomimetics that possess a high degree of biological stability. One emerging tool for the stereoselective synthesis of thioglycosides is the photoinitiated addition of thiols to unsaturated sugars. Moreover, thiyl radical-mediated reactions of exo-glycals and 1-substituted endo-glycals offer facile routes to β-C-glycosidic structures. This Concept article summarizes the thiol-ene coupling strategies developed recently by our group and Somsák's group for the synthesis of several kinds of glycomimetics which are difficult to synthesize by conventional methods. One unusual characteristic of the thiol-ene reactions of endo-glycals is that heating inhibits, whereas cooling promotes the reaction. This unique temperature dependence as well as the effects of the enose structures and thiol configurations on the efficacy and stereoselectivity of the reactions are also discussed.

Photoinitiated Thiol-Ene Reactions of Various 2,3-Unsaturated O-, C- S- and N-Glycosides - Scope and Limitations Study

The photoinitiated thiol-ene addition reaction is a highly stereo- and regioselective, and environmentally friendly reaction proceeding under mild conditions, hence it is ideally suited for the synthesis of carbohydrate mimetics. A comprehensive study on UV-light-induced reactions of 2,3-unsaturated O-, C-, S- and N-glycosides with various thiols was performed. The effect of experimental parameters and structural variations of the alkenes and thiols on the efficacy and regio- and stereoselectivity of the reactions was systematically studied and optimized. The type of anomeric heteroatom was found to profoundly affect the reactivity of 2,3-unsaturated sugars in the thiol-ene couplings. Hydrothiolation of 2,3-dideoxy O-glycosyl enosides efficiently produced the axially C2-S-substituted addition products with high to complete regioselectivity. Moderate efficacy and varying regio- and stereoselectivity were observed with 2,3-unsaturated N-glycosides and no addition occurred onto the endocyclic double bond of C-glycosides. Upon hydrothiolation of 2,3-unsaturated S-glycosides, the addition of thiyl radicals was followed by elimination of the thiyl aglycone resulting in 3-S-substituted glycals.

Photo-induced thiol-ene reactions for late-stage functionalization of unsaturated polyether macrocycles: regio and diastereoselective access to macrocyclic dithiol derivatives

Double hydrothiolation of bis enol ether macrocycles was achieved under photo-mediated conditions. The thiol-ene reactions afford a fully regioselective anti-Markovnikov post-functionalization. Thanks to the use of ethanedithiol as reagent, moderate to excellent diastereoselectivity was accomplished leading to macrocycles containing four defined stereocenters in only three steps from 1,4-dioxane, tetrahydrofuran (THF) or tetrahydropyran (THP).

Addition of Heteroatom Radicals to endo-Glycals †

Radical reactions have found many applications in carbohydrate chemistry, especially in the construction of carbon–carbon bonds. The formation of carbon–heteroatom bonds has been less intensively studied. This mini-review will summarize the efforts to add heteroatom radicals to unsaturated carbohydrates like endo-glycals. Starting from early examples, developed more than 50 years ago, the importance of such reactions for carbohydrate chemistry and recent applications will be discussed. After a short introduction, the mini-review is divided in sub-chapters according to the heteroatoms halogen, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur. The mechanisms of radical generation by chemical or photochemical processes and the subsequent reactions of the radicals at the 1-position will be discussed. This mini-review cannot cover all aspects of heteroatom-centered radicals in carbohydrate chemistry, but should provide an overview of the various strategies and future perspectives.

Stereoselective Synthesis of Carbon-Sulfur-Bridged Glycomimetics by Photoinitiated Thiol-Ene Coupling Reactions

Oligosaccharides and glycoconjugates are abundant in all living organisms, taking part in a multitude of biological processes. The application of natural O-glycosides in biological studies and drug development is limited by their sensitivity to enzymatic hydrolysis. This issue made it necessary to design hydrolytically stable carbohydrate mimetics, where sulfur, carbon, or longer interglycosidic connections comprising two or three atoms replace the glycosidic oxygen. However, the formation of the interglycosidic linkages between the sugar residues in high diastereoslectivity poses a major challenge. Here, we report on stereoselective synthesis of carbon-sulfur-bridged disaccharide mimetics by the free radical addition of carbohydrate thiols onto the exo-cyclic double bond of unsaturated sugars. A systematic study on UV-light initiated radical mediated hydrothiolation reactions of enoses bearing an exocyclic double bond at C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, and C6 positions of the pyranosyl ring with various sugar thiols was performed. The effect of temperature and structural variations of the alkenes and thiols on the efficacy and stereoselectivity of the reactions was systematically studied and optimized. The reactions proceeded with high efficacy and, in most cases, with complete diastereoselectivity producing a broad array of disaccharide mimetics coupling through an equatorially oriented methylensulfide bridge.

Recent development in the synthesis of C-glycosides involving glycosyl radicals

C-Glycosylation involving glycosyl radical intermediates is a particularly effective approach to access C-glycosides, which are core units of a great number of natural products, bioactive compounds and marketed drugs.

Synthesis and photoinitiated thiol–ene reactions of exo-mannals – a new route to C-β-d-mannosyl derivatives

Syntheses of acyl protected exo-mannal derivatives were developed starting from O-peracylated mannopyranoses via the corresponding anhydro-aldose tosylhydrazones under modified Bamford–Stevens conditions. The synthesis of analogous O-peralkylated (benzylated and isopropylenated) derivatives was carried out from pyranoid and furanoid mannonolactones using methylene transfer reagents. Photoinitiated thiol–ene additions of these exo-mannals resulted in the corresponding C-(mannopyranosyl/mannofuranosyl)methyl sulfides in medium to good yields with exclusive regio- and β(d) stereoselectivities.

A synthetic procedure was elaborated for O-peracylated exo-mannals. Thiol-ene additions to pyranoid and furanoid exo-mannals gave mannosylmethyl sulfide type adducts with exclusive regio- and β(d)-stereoselectivities including disaccharide mimetics.

Stereoselective Thioconjugation by Photoinduced Thiol-ene Coupling Reactions of Hexo- and Pentopyranosyl d- and l-Glycals at Low-Temperature-Reactivity and Stereoselectivity Study

A comprehensive optimization and mechanistic study on the photoinduced hydrothiolation of different d- and l- hexo- and pentoglycals with various thiols was performed, at the temperature range of RT to -120 °C. Addition of thiols onto 2-substituted hexoglycals proceeded with complete 1,2-cis-α-stereoselectivity in all cases. Hydrothiolation of 2-substituted pentoglycals resulted in mixtures of 1,2-cis-α- and -β-thioglycosides of varying ratio depending on the configuration of the reactants. Hydrothiolation of unsubstituted glycals at -80 °C proceeded with excellent yields and, except for galactal, provided the axially C2-S-linked isomers with high selectivity. Cooling was always beneficial to the efficacy, increased the yields and in most cases significantly raised the stereoselectivity. The suggested mechanism explains the different conformational preferences of the intermediate carbon-centered radicals, which is a crucial factor in the stereoselectivity of the reactions.

Synthesis and Cytostatic Effect of 3'-deoxy-3'-C-Sulfanylmethyl Nucleoside Derivatives with d-xylo Configuration

A small library of 3’-deoxy-C3’-substituted xylofuranosyl-pyrimidine nucleoside analogues were prepared by photoinduced thiol-ene addition of various thiols, including normal and branched alkyl-, 2-hydroxyethyl, benzyl-, and sugar thiols, to 3’-exomethylene derivatives of 2’,5’-di-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-protected ribothymidine and uridine. The bioactivity of these derivatives was studied on tumorous SCC (mouse squamous carcinoma cell) and immortalized control HaCaT (human keratinocyte) cell lines. Several alkyl-substituted analogues elicited promising cytostatic activity in low micromolar concentrations with a slight selectivity toward tumor cells. Near-infrared live-cell imaging revealed SCC tumor cell-specific mitotic blockade via genotoxicity of analogue 10, bearing an n-butyl side chain. This analogue essentially affects the chromatin structure of SCC tumor cells, inducing a condensed nuclear material and micronuclei as also supported by fluorescent microscopy. The results highlight that thiol-ene chemistry represents an efficient strategy to discover novel nucleoside analogues with non-natural sugar structures as anticancer agents.

New syntheses towards C-glycosyl type glycomimetics

Glycomimetics are compounds that resemble carbohydrate molecules in their chemical structure and/or biological effect. A large variety of compounds can be designed and synthesized to get glycomimetics, however, C-glycosyl derivatives represent one of the most frequently studied subgroup. In the present survey syntheses of a range of five- and six membered C-glycopyranosyl heterocycles, anhydro-aldimine type compounds, exo-glycals, C-glycosyl styrenes, carbon-sulfur bonded oligosaccharide mimics are described. Some of the C-glycopyranosyl azoles, namely 1,2,4-triazoles and imidazoles belong to the most efficient glucose analog inhibitors of glycogen phosphorylase known to date. Biological studies revealed the therapeutical potential of such inhibitors. Other synthetic derivatives offer versatile possibilities to get further glycomimetics.

Theoretical modeling of pKa's of thiol compounds in aqueous solution

The pK_a's of different kinds of thiols (R-SH) were investigated by using the M06-2X method with a SMD_sSAS model.

Thio-click reaction of 2-deoxy-exo-glycals towards new glycomimetics: stereoselective synthesis of C-2-deoxy-d-glycopyranosyl compounds

Photoinitiated addition of thiols to 2-deoxy-exo-glycals obtained from endo-glycals of d-arabino, d-lyxo, d-erythro and d-threo configurations resulted in highly regio- and stereoselective formation of glycosylmethyl sulfide type glycomimetics.

Dissection of the effects that govern thioglucoside and thiomannoside reactivity

Neighboring group effects were investigated in gluco- and manno-configured thioglycosides under NIS/TfOH activation. Donors possessing a 2-O-benzoyl group that are capable (1,2-trans) and incapable (1,2-cis) of exerting nucleophilic push were compared with donors possessing a participatory neutral 2-O-benzyl group. By using competition experiments between sets of glycosyl donors the direct effect of neighboring group participation and the electron withdrawing effect of the 2-O-benzoyl group could be separated. The study brings insight into how the stereochemistry of the 1 and 2 position and how the nature of the aglycon (Ph or Et) have a pronounced effect on glycosyl donor reactivity.

A low-temperature, photoinduced thiol–ene click reaction: a mild and efficient method for the synthesis of sugar-modified nucleosides

While studying the radical mediated hydrothiolation of nucleoside enofuranosides, an unusual temperature effect was observed by the exploitation of which various thio-substituted nucleoside analogues were produced.

A new synthesis of C-β-d-glycopyranosylmethyl sulfides by metal-free coupling of anhydro-aldose tosylhydrazones with thiols

Cross-coupling of anhydro-aldose tosylhydrazones with thiols provided a new access to C-glycopyranosylmethyl sulfides.

Unprecedented β-manno type thiodisaccharides with a C-glycosylic function by photoinitiated hydrothiolation of 1-C-substituted glycals

Unique thiodisaccharides of β-manno type featuring C-glycosylic structure with an anomeric functional group for further elaboration were obtained by radical-mediated hydrothiolation of 1-C-acceptor-substituted glycals.

The photochemical thiol-ene reaction as a versatile method for the synthesis of glutathione S-conjugates targeting the bacterial potassium efflux system Kef

The thiol-ene coupling reaction is emerging as an important conjugation reaction that is suitable for use in a biological setting. Here, we explore the utility of this reaction for the synthesis of glutathione-S-conjugates (GSX) and present a general, operationally simple, protocol with a wide substrate scope. The GSX afforded are an important class of compounds and provide invaluable molecular tools to study glutathione-binding proteins. In this study we apply the diverse library of GSX synthesised to further our understanding of the structural requirements for binding to the glutathione-binding protein, Kef, a bacterial K⁺ efflux system, found in many bacterial pathogens. This system is vital to the survival of bacteria upon exposure to electrophiles, and plays an essential role in the maintenance of intracellular pH and K⁺ homeostasis. Consequently, Kef is an appealing target for the development of novel antibacterial drugs.

Photoinitiated hydrothiolation of pyranoid exo-glycals: the d-galacto and d-xylo cases

Radical-mediated addition reactions of thiols to O-peracetylated exo-galactal and exo-xylal with 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone as the photoinitiator resulted in high yielding formation of the corresponding β-d-glycopyranosylmethyl-sulfide derivatives (2,6-anhydro-1-deoxy-1-S-substituted-1-thio-alditols) with exclusive regio- and very high stereoselectivity, including disaccharide mimicks with Gly-CH2-S-Gly scaffolds.