Model studies on the analysis of pyruvic acid acetal-containing polysaccharides by the reductive-cleavage method

The 4,6-O-(1-methoxycarbonylethylidene), -(hydroxyisopropylidene), and -(methoxyisopropylidene) acetals of methyl 2,3-di-O-methyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside were subjected to reductive cleavage in the presence of triethylsilane and trimethylsilyl methanesulfonate-boron trifluoride etherate (Me3SiOMs-BF3.Et2O), BF3.Et2O, or trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (Me3SiOSO2CF3) and the mole fractions of products were determined as a function of reaction time. The 4,6-(1-methoxycarbonylethylidene) acetal was quite stable to reductive-cleavage conditions but isomerization of the initial R,S mixture of diastereomers to the more-stable S diastereoisomer was noted. In addition, a slow, regiospecific, reductive ring-opening of the acetal was observed to give 6-O-1-(methoxycarbonyl)ethyl] derivatives. The 4,6-(hydroxyisopropylidene) acetal was very unstable under reductive-cleavage conditions. Both Me3SiOMs-BF3.Et2O and Me3SiOSO2CF3 catalyzed complete removal of the group, via the intermediate 6-1-(hydroxymethyl)ethyl] ether, but BF3.Et2O gave a mixture of products. The 4,6-(methoxyisopropylidene) acetal was also very labile under reductive-cleavage conditions; Me3SiOMs-BF3.Et2O catalyzed complete removal of the acetal, via the intermediate 6-1-(methoxymethyl)ethyl]ether, but the intermediate ether was quite stable in the presence of either BF3.Et2O or Me3SiOSO2CF3. It is concluded from these studies that polysaccharides bearing 4,6-O-(1-carboxyethylidene) substituents can be analyzed directly by sequential permethylation and reductive cleavage. It is proposed that the identity of the substituted monomer and the positions of substitution of the acetal can be determined by sequential permethylation, ester reduction, and reductive cleavage.