Convenient synthesis of fluorinated nucleosides with perfluoroalkanesulfonyl fluorides

The Synthesis and Glycoside Formation of Polyfluorinated Carbohydrates

Fluorinated carbohydrates have found many applications in the glycosciences. Typically, these contain fluorination at a single position. There are not many applications involving polyfluorinated carbohydrates, here defined as monosaccharides in which more than one carbon has at least one fluorine substituent directly attached to it, with the notable exception of their use as mechanism-based inhibitors. The increasing attention to carbohydrate physical properties, especially around lipophilicity, has resulted in a surge of interest for this class of compounds. This review covers the considerable body of work toward the synthesis of polyfluorinated hexoses, pentoses, ketosugars, and aminosugars including sialic acids and nucleosides. An overview of the current state of the art of their glycosidation is also provided.

Synthesis of fluorinated acyclic nucleoside phosphonates with 5-azacytosine base moiety

With respect to the strong antiviral activity of (S)-1-[3-hydroxy-2-(phosphonomethoxy)propyl]-5-azacytosine various types of its side chain fluorinated analogues were prepared. The title compound, (S)-1-[3-fluoro-2-(phosphonomethoxy)propyl]-5-azacytosine (FPMP-5-azaC) was synthesised by the condensation reaction of (S)-2-[(diisopropoxyphosphoryl)methoxy)-3-fluoropropyl p-toluenesulfonate with a sodium salt of 5-azacytosine followed by separation of appropriate N¹ and O² regioisomers and ester hydrolysis. Transformations of FPMP-5-azaC to its 5,6-dihydro-5-azacytosine counterpart, amino acid phosphoramidate prodrugs and systems with an annelated five-membered imidazole ring, i.e. imidazo [1,2-a][1,3,5]triazine derivatives were also carried out. 1-(2-Phosphonomethoxy-3,3,3-trifluoropropyl)-5-azacytosine was prepared from 5-azacytosine and trifluoromethyloxirane to form 1-(3,3,3-trifluoro-2-hydroxypropyl)-5-azacytosine which was treated with diisopropyl bromomethanephosphonate followed by deprotection of esters. Antiviral activity of all newly prepared compounds was studied. FPMP-5-azaC diisopropyl ester inhibited the replication of herpes viruses with EC₅₀ values that were about three times higher than that of the reference anti-HCMV drug ganciclovir without displaying cytotoxicity.

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5-Azacytosine acyclic nucleoside phosphonates fluorinated in the aliphatic side chain have been synthesized.

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Stabilized analogues with 5,6-dihydro arrangement and/or with an annelated five-membered ring were also prepared.

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Diisopropyl phosphonate esters were converted to amino acid amidate prodrugs.

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In most cases, antiviral activity of the compounds was only marginal.

Sulfur - fluorine bond in PET radiochemistry

The importance of the sulfur-fluorine bond is starting to increase in modern medicinal chemistry literature. This is due to a better understanding of the stability and reactivity of this moiety depending on the various oxidation states of sulfur. Furthermore, several commercial reagents used for mild and selective fluorination of organic molecules are based on the known reactivity of S-F groups. In this review, we will show how these examples are translating into the ¹⁸F field, both for use as stable tags in finished radiopharmaceuticals and as mildly reactive fluoride-relay intermediates. Finally, we also discuss current opportunities where examples of non-radioactive S-F applications/chemistry may be translated into future ¹⁸F radiochemistry applications.

[(18)F]Fluoropyruvate: radiosynthesis and initial biological evaluation

The radiosynthesis of [(18)F]fluoropyruvate was investigated using numerous precursors were synthesized from ethyl 2,2-diethoxy-3-hydroxypropanoate (5) containing different leaving groups: mesylate, tosylate, triflate, and nonaflate. These precursors were evaluated for [(18)F]fluoride incorporation with triflate being superior. The subsequent hydrolysis step was investigated, and an acidic hydrolysis was optimized. After establishing suitable purification and formulation methods, the [(18)F]fluoropyruvate could be isolated in ca. 50% d.c. yield. The [(18)F]fluoropyruvate was evaluated in vitro for its uptake into tumor cells using adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cells (A549) and unfortunately showed an uptake of approximately 0.1% of the applied dose per 100,000 cells after 30 min. Initial pharmacokinetic properties were assessed in vivo using nude mice showed a high degree of bone uptake from defluorination, which will limit its potential as an imaging agent for metabolic processes.

Synthesis, duplex stabilization and structural properties of a fluorinated carbocyclic LNA analogue

DNA oligonucleotides modified with nucleoside monomers which have an electron withdrawing group (EWG) at the 2'-position of the furanose ring form more stable duplexes with complementary RNA as compared to unmodified DNA. Here we show that an anti-periplanar orientation of the nucleobase and the 2'-EWG is important for optimal duplex stabilization even for nucleic acid analogues with conformationally locked furanose rings.

Radiofluorinated derivatives of 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid as inhibitors of prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) for the imaging of prostate cancer

For prostate cancer, prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) has been identified as a diagnostic and therapeutic target. Fluorinated derivatives of 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid were designed and synthesized to explore whether this fluorine-substituent is tolerated in the pentanedioic acid moiety that is common to almost all PSMA targeting small molecule inhibitors. The binding affinities of the racemic and individual stereoisomers of 2-fluoro-4-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid were determined and showed that the introduction of fluorine was well tolerated. The radiosynthesis of the analogous 2-[(18)F]fluoro-4-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid was developed and evaluated in vivo with the PSMA positive LNCaP human prostate cancer cell. The biological results demonstrated specific binding of the tracer to PSMA positive tumors in mice. These results warrant the further evaluation of this class of compounds as radiolabeled tracers for the detection and staging of prostate cancer.

Synthesis and antisense properties of fluoro cyclohexenyl nucleic acid (F-CeNA), a nuclease stable mimic of 2'-fluoro RNA

We report the design and synthesis of 2'-fluoro cyclohexenyl nucleic acid (F-CeNA) pyrimidine phosphoramidites and the synthesis and biophysical, structural, and biological evaluation of modified oligonucleotides. The synthesis of the nucleoside phosphoramidites was accomplished in multigram quantities starting from commercially available methyl-D-mannose pyranoside. Installation of the fluorine atom was accomplished using nonafluorobutanesulfonyl fluoride, and the cyclohexenyl ring system was assembled by means of a palladium-catalyzed Ferrier rearrangement. Installation of the nucleobase was carried out under Mitsunobu conditions followed by standard protecting group manipulations to provide the desired pyrimidine phosphoramidites. Biophysical evaluation indicated that F-CeNA shows behavior similar to that of a 2'-modified nucleotide, and duplexes with RNA showed slightly lower duplex thermostability as compared to that of the more rigid 3'-fluoro hexitol nucleic acid (FHNA). However, F-CeNA modified oligonucleotides were significantly more stable against digestion by snake venom phosphodiesterases (SVPD) as compared to unmodified DNA, 2'-fluoro RNA (FRNA), 2'-methoxyethyl RNA (MOE), and FHNA modified oligonucleotides. Examination of crystal structures of a modified DNA heptamer duplex d(GCG)-T*-d(GCG):d(CGCACGC) by X-ray crystallography indicated that the cyclohexenyl ring system exhibits both the (3)H(2) and (2)H(3) conformations, similar to the C3'-endo/C2'-endo conformation equilibrium seen in natural furanose nucleosides. In the (2)H(3) conformation, the equatorial fluorine engages in a relatively close contact with C8 (2.94 Å) of the 3'-adjacent dG nucleotide that may represent a pseudo hydrogen bond. In contrast, the cyclohexenyl ring of F-CeNA was found to exist exclusively in the (3)H(2) (C3'-endo like) conformation in the crystal structure of the modified A-form DNA decamer duplex [d(GCGTA)-T*-d(ACGC)](2.) In an animal experiment, a 16-mer F-CeNA gapmer ASO showed similar RNA affinity but significantly improved activity compared to that of a sequence matched MOE ASO, thus establishing F-CeNA as a useful modification for antisense applications.

Synthesis, improved antisense activity and structural rationale for the divergent RNA affinities of 3'-fluoro hexitol nucleic acid (FHNA and Ara-FHNA) modified oligonucleotides

The synthesis, biophysical, structural, and biological properties of both isomers of 3'-fluoro hexitol nucleic acid (FHNA and Ara-FHNA) modified oligonucleotides are reported. Synthesis of the FHNA and Ara-FHNA thymine phosphoramidites was efficiently accomplished starting from known sugar precursors. Optimal RNA affinities were observed with a 3'-fluorine atom and nucleobase in a trans-diaxial orientation. The Ara-FHNA analog with an equatorial fluorine was found to be destabilizing. However, the magnitude of destabilization was sequence-dependent. Thus, the loss of stability is sharply reduced when Ara-FHNA residues were inserted at pyrimidine-purine (Py-Pu) steps compared to placement within a stretch of pyrimidines (Py-Py). Crystal structures of A-type DNA duplexes modified with either monomer provide a rationalization for the opposing stability effects and point to a steric origin of the destabilization caused by the Ara-FHNA analog. The sequence dependent effect can be explained by the formation of an internucleotide C-F···H-C pseudo hydrogen bond between F3' of Ara-FHNA and C8-H of the nucleobase from the 3'-adjacent adenosine that is absent at Py-Py steps. In animal experiments, FHNA-modified antisense oligonucleotides formulated in saline showed a potent downregulation of gene expression in liver tissue without producing hepatotoxicity. Our data establish FHNA as a useful modification for antisense therapeutics and also confirm the stabilizing influence of F(Py)···H-C(Pu) pseudo hydrogen bonds in nucleic acid structures.

Synthesis of fluorinated nucleosides

Two practical synthetic approaches to the production of lodenosine [FddA, 9-(2,3-dideoxy-2-fluoro-beta-D-threo-pentofuranosyl)adenine] via 6-chloropurine riboside or 6-chloropurine 3'-deoxyriboside are described. The reaction sequence contains new fluorination methods and new applications of radical reduction. The reagents and reaction conditions of each step have been carefully selected to ensure robustness and safety.

The first synthesis and cytostatic activity of novel 6-(fluoromethyl)purine bases and nucleosides

Two alternative approaches to the synthesis of novel 6-(fluoromethyl)purine bases and nucleosides are described either by direct deoxyfluorination or by multistep functional group transformations starting from 6-(hydroxymethyl)purines. 6-(fluoromethyl)purine ribonucleoside displayed significant cytostatic effects.

Simple Transformation of Thymine 1-[3-Hydroxy-2-(phosphonomethoxy)propyl] Derivatives to Their 1-[3-Fluoro-2-(phosphonomethoxy)propyl] Counterparts

A novel method of transformation of HOCH2 group to FCH2 was successfully applied to the preparation of fluorine-containing pyrimidine acyclic nucleoside phosphonates (FPMP compounds) such as (S)- and (R)-1-[3-fluoro-2-(phosphonomethoxy)propyl]thymine (7a, 7b) (FPMPT). The key displacement of hydroxy group with fluorine in 1-{2-[(diisopropoxyphosphoryl)- methoxy]-3-hydroxypropyl}-4-methoxy-5-methylpyrimidin-2(1H)-one (5a, 5b) was performed using perfluorobutane-1-sulfonyl fluoride in the presence of DBU. Novel pyrimidine acyclic nucleoside phosphonates were investigated as inhibitors of thymidine phosphorylase.

Electrolytic Partial Fluorination of Organic Compounds.71.1 Highly Diastereoselective Anodic Fluorination of Sulfides Having Oxygen-Containing Heterocyclic Groups

Diastereoselective anodic fluorination of sulfides having various oxygen-containing heterocyclic substituents such as 2-furanyl, 1,3-dioxolanyl, 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolanyl, 2-spirocyclohexyl-1,3-dioxolanyl, 2-spiroadamantyl-1,3-dixolanyl, and 1,3-dioxolanonyl groups at the beta-position was comparatively studied. Among the oxygen-containing heterocyclic substituents, the 2-spirocyclohexyl-1,3-dioxolanyl group gave the best diastereoselectivity (80% de). The diastereoselectivity was also affected by supporting fluoride salts and solvents. Chemical fluorination using selectfluor resulted in much lower diastereoselectivity and extremely poor yield. The fluorinated products were readily converted into the corresponding fluorinated diol in good yields by acidic hydrolysis.

An industrial process for synthesizing Lodenosine (FddA)

Two industrial synthetic approaches to Lodenosine (1, FddA, 9-(2,3-dideoxy-2-fluoro-beta-D-threo-pentofuranosyl) adenine) via a purine riboside or a purine 3'-deoxyriboside are described. Several novel applications of deoxygenation and fluorination methods are compared considering reaction yields, economy, safety and environmental concerns.