Syntheses of methyl ethers of methyl α-D-mannopyranoside,and hydrogen bonding in diastereoisomers of methyl 4-O-(1-ethoxyethyl)-α-D-mannopyranoside

The synthesis of the 4-methyl, the 2,4-dimethyl, and the 2,3,6-trimethyl ethers of methyl α-D-mannopyranoside has been accomplished by the use of selective, benzoyl protecting groups, the 1-ethoxyethyl protecting group, and methylation with diazomethane. Considerable differences were noted in the i.r.- and n.m.r.-spectroscopic and t.l.c. properties of the diastereoisomers of methyl 4-O-[1-ethoxyethyl]-α-D-mannopyranoside. A structure, analogous to that of trans-decalin, maintained by intramolecular hydrogen-bonding is proposed for these compounds. The differences in physical properties of the two diastereoisomers are interpreted on the basis that the (R) isomer has an axially attached methyl group, and, therefore, the ring involved cannot be so stable as that of the (S) isomer.     

Synthesis of methyl 3-O- and 2-O-carbamoyl-α-D-mannopyranosides and carbamoyl-group migration between them

Methyl 3-O- and 2-O-carbamoyl-α-D-mannopyranosides, (2 and 3), were synthesized from methyl α-D-mannopyranoside via ammonolysis of a cyclic carbonate or a p-nitrophenoxycarbonate, as shown in Charts 1 and 2. Carbamoyl-group migration between the C-2 and C-3 hydroxyl groups, in methyl α-D-mannopyranoside under alkaline conditions, was also studied.     

Preferential sulfonylation of methyl 2,6-di-O-mesyl-α-D-glucopyranoside

When equimolar ratios of mesyl chloride and methyl 2,6-di-O-mesyl-α-D-glucopyranoside were allowed to react in pyridine and the product resolved by preparative t.l.c., the 2,6-di-, 2,3,6-tri-, 2,4,6-tri-, and 2,3,4,6-tetra-mesyl esters were obtained in (0.5–0.6):1:(4–5):(1-2-1.4) molar ratio. Benzoylation of either the isolated 2,4,6-tri-O-mesyl ester or, more conveniently, the mixture from monomesylation gave the crystalline methyl 3-O-benzoyl-2,4,6-triO-mesyl-α-D-glucopyranoside (8). As both of these trimesyl esters (7 and 8) are unreported, isolation of the benzoate established the 2,4,6-ester arrangement, and the 2,3,6-triester was prepared by standard methods. Treating methyl α-D-glucopyranoside with 3 molar equivalents of mesyl chloride and, subsequently, with 1 molar equivalent of benzoyl chloride, proved a convenient method for preparing the 3-O-benzoyl derivative in moderate yield. Monotosylation of methyl 2,6-di-O mesyl-α-D-glucopyranoside was not so definitive as mesylation, but a molar ratio of 1:2.8 for the 3-O-tosyl:4-O-tosyl product was derived from n.m.r. data. This work, when combined with literature reports, establishes that, in methyl α-D-glucopyranoside, the reactivity toward sulfonylation is 6-OH>2-OH>4-OH>3-OH.     

Unsaturated sugars I. Decarboxylative elimination of methyl 2,3-di-O-benzyl-α-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid to methyl 2,3-di-O-benzyl-4-deoxy-β-L-threo-Pent-4-enopyranoside

Decarboxylative elimination of methyl 2,3-di-O-benzyl-α-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid (1) with N,N-dimethylformamide dineopentyl acetal in N,N-dimethylformamide gave methyl 2,3-di-O-benzyl-4-deoxy-β-L-threo-pent-4-enopyranoside (3). Debenzylation of 3 was effected with sodium in liquid ammonia to give methyl 4-deoxy-β-L-threo-pent-4-enopyranoside (4). Hydrogenation of 3 catalyzed by palladium-on-barium sulfate afforded methyl 2,3-di-O-benzyl-4-deoxy-β-L-threo-pentopyranoside (5), whereas hydrogenation of 3 over palladium-on-carbon gave methyl 4-deoxy-β-L-threo-pentopyranoside (6). An improved preparation of methyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-α-D-glucopyranoside is also described.     

Sequential synthesis and C-N.m.r. spectra of methyl β-glycosides of (1→4)-β-d-xylo-oligosaccharides

The reaction of 2,3-di-O-acetyl-4-O-benzyl-α,β-d-xylopyranosyl bromide (2) with methyl 2,3-di-O-acetyl-β-d-xylopyranoside gave methyl O-(2,3-di-O-acetyl-4-O-benzyl-β-d-xylopyranosyl)-(1→4)-2,3-di-O-acetyl-β-d-xylopyranoside (22). Catalytic hydrogenolysis of 22 exposed HO-4′ which was then condensed with 2. This sequence of reactions was repeated three more times to afford, after complete removal of protecting groups, a homologous series of methyl β-glycosides of (1→4)-β-d-xylo-oligosaccharides. ¹³C-N.m.r. spectra of the synthetic methyl β-glycosides (di- to hexa-saccharide) are presented together with data for six other, variously substituted, homologous series of (1→4)-d-xylo-oligosaccharides.     

Synthesis of monodeoxy and mono-O-methyl congeners of methyl β-d-mannopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-d-mannopyranoside for epitope mapping of anti-Candida albicans antibodies

A panel of six complementary monodeoxy and mono-O-methyl congeners of methyl β-d-mannopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-d-mannopyranoside (1) were synthesized by stereoselective glycosylation of monodeoxy and mono-O-methyl monosaccharide acceptors with a 2-O-acetyl-glucosyl trichloroacetimidate donor, followed by a two-step oxidation–reduction sequence at C-2′. The β-manno configurations of the final deprotected congeners 2–7 were confirmed by measurement of ¹J_C1,H1 heteronuclear and ³J_1′,2′ homonuclear coupling constants. These disaccharide derivatives will be used to map the protective epitope recognized by a protective anti-Candida albicans monoclonal antibody C3.1 (IgG3) and to determine its key polar contacts with the binding site.     

Studies on the koenigs-knorr reaction : Part V. Synthesis of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-3-O-α-L-fucopyranosyl-α-D-glucose

Optically pure 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-3-O-α-L-fucopyranosyl-α-D-glucose was synthesized by the Koenigs-Knorr reaction of 2-O-benzyl-3,4-di-O-p-nitrobenzoyl-α-L-fucopyranosyl bromide with benzyl 2-acetamido-4,6-O-benzylidene-2-deoxy-α-D-glucopyrainoside. Reaction of 2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-α-L-fucopyranosyl bromide gave the β-L-fucopyranosyl anomer. In contrast to the stereospecificity shown in this reaction by these two bromides, 2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-α-L-fucopyranosyl bromide afforded a mixture of α-L and β-L anomers in almost equimolar proportions. The disaccharides synthesized were crystallized and characterized, and their optical purity demonstrated by g.l.c. of the per(trimethylsilyl) ethers of the corresponding alditols.     

The synthesis of P-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-α-D-glucopyranosyl) P-ficaprenyl pyrophosphate

2-Acetamido-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-α,β-D-glucopyranosylammonium phosphate was prepared by the action of crystalline phosphoric acid on 2-acetamido-1,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-D-glucopyranose. The α-D anomer (3) was the main product, and was isolated pure by preparative thin-layer chromatography or by removal of the β-D anomer (6) by selective acid hydrolysis. Ficaprenyl phosphate was prepared from ficaprenol, obtained as an isomeric mixture (mainly C₅₅) from an extract of Ficus elastica. Compound 3 was converted into the free acid and then into the tributyl-ammonium salt, which was treated with P¹-diphenyl P²-ficaprenyl pyrophosphate to give the acetylated pyrophosphate diester 8, characterized by analytical, spectral, and hydrogenolytic studies. Deacetylation of 8 gave the synthetic “lipid intermediate”, P¹-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranosyl) P²-ficaprenyl pyrophosphate (9), the properties of which were compared with those of natural substances considered to be active in the biosynthesis of teichoic acids.     

Conversion of amylose into a (1→4)-2-amino-2-deoxy-α-D-glucopyranuronan and its 2-N-sulfo derivative, a heparin analog

By a modification of a previously established reaction-sequence involving successive oxidation with methyl sulfoxide-acetic anhydride, oximation, and reduction with lithium aluminum hydride, 6-O-tritylamylose (1) was converted into a 6-O-tritylated (1→4)-α-D-linked glucan (3) containing 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucose residues and some O-(methylthio)methyl groups. Removal of the ether groups from this product gave a 2-aminated amylose (4) of degree of substitution (d.s.) by amine of 0.54 that underwent cleavage by fungal alpha-amylase to give oligosaccharides containing amino sugar residues. N-Trifluoroacetylation of 3 followed by removal of the ether groups, oxidation at C-6 with oxygen-platinum, and removal of the N-substituent, gave a (1 →4)-2-amino-2-deoxy-α-D-glucopyranuronan 7 having d.s. by amine of up to 0.65, and by carboxyl, of 0.46. Sulfation of this product with sulfur trioxide-pyridine and then with chlorosulfonic acid-pyridine gave a (1→4)-2-deoxy-2-sulfoamino-α-D-glucopyranuronan, isolated as its sodium salt 8, which showed appreciable blood-anticoagulant activity.     

Product-identification and substrate-specificity studies of the GDP-l-fucose: 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-d-glucoside (fuc→asn-linked GlcNAc) 6-α-l-fucosyltransferase in a golgi-rich fraction from porcine liver

Golgi-rich membranes from porcine liver have been shown to contain an enzyme that transfers l-fucose in α-(1→6) linkage from GDP-l-fucose to the asparagine-linked 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-d-glucose r residue of a glycopeptide derived from human α₁-acid glycoprotein. Product identification was performed by high-resolution, ¹H-n.m.r. spectroscopy at 360 MHz and by permethylation analysis. The enzyme has been named GDP-l-fucose: 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-d-glucoside (Fuc→Asn-linked GlcNAc) 6-α-l-fucosyltransferase, because the substrate requires a terminal β-(1→2)-linked GlcNAc residue on the α-Man (1→3) arm of the core. Glycopeptides with this residue were shown to be acceptors whether they contained 3 or 5 Man residues. Substrate-specificity studies have shown that diantennary glycopeptides with two terminal β-(1→2)-linked GlcNAc residues and glycopeptides with more than two terminal GlcNAc residues are also excellent acceptors for the fucosyltransferase. An examination of four pairs of glycopeptides differing only by the absence or presence of a bisecting GlcNAc residue in β-(1→4) linkage to the β-linked Man residue of the core showed that the bisecting GlcNAc prevented 6-α-l-fucosyltransferase action. These findings probably explain why the oligosaccharides with a high content of mannose and the hybrid oligosaccharides with a bisecting GlcNAc residue that have been isolated to date do not contain a core l-fucosyl residue.     

Application of the imidate procedure to α-d-galactosyltion

Using the imidate procedure, 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-1-O-(N-methylacetimidoyl)-β-d-galactopyranose was condensed with various monosaccharides to provide, in good yield and with high stereoselectivity, α-linked disaccharides.     

Synthesis and biological activity of O-(N-acetyl-β-muramoyl-l-alanyl-d-isoglutamine)-(1→6)-2-acylamino-2-deoxy-d-glucoses

Benzoylation of benzyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-4,6-O-isopropylidene-α-d-glucopyranoside, benzyl 2-deoxy-2-(dl-3-hydroxytetradecanoylamino)-4,6-O-isopropylidene-α-d-glucopyranoside, and benzyl 2-deoxy-4,6-O-isopropylidene-2-octadecanoylamino-β-d-glucopyranoside, with subsequent hydrolysis of the 4,6-O-isopropylidene group, gave the corresponding 3-O-benzoyl derivatives (4, 5, and 7). Hydrogenation of benzyl 2-acetamido-4,6-di-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-3-O-[d-1-(methoxycarbonyl)ethyl]-α-d-glucopyranoside, followed by chlorination, gave a product that was treated with mercuric actate to yield 2-acetamido-1,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-3-O-[d-1-(methoxycarbonyl)ethyl]-β-d-glucopyranose (11). Treatment of 11 with ferric chloride afforded the oxazoline derivative, which was condensed with 4, 5, and 7 to give the (1→6)-β-linked disaccharide derivatives 13, 15, and 17. Hydrolysis of the methyl ester group in the compounds derived from 13, 15, and 17 by 4-O-acetylation gave the corresponding free acids, which were coupled with l-alanyl-d-isoglutamine benzyl ester, to yield the dipeptide derivatives 19–21 in excellent yields. Hydrolysis of 19–21, followed by hydrogenation, gave the respective O-(N-acetyl-β-muramoyl-l-alanyl-d-isoglutamine)-(1→6)-2-acylamino-2-deoxy-d-glucoses in good yields. The immunoadjuvant activity of these compounds was examined in guinea-pigs.     

Crystal and molecular structure of potassium β-d-glucopyranose 6-sulphate

The crystal and molecular structure of potassium β-d-glucopyranose 6-sulphate has been determined by direct methods. The sugar ring has the expected ⁴C₁ conformation although the sulphate group causes flattening of the ring. The potassium ion has octahedral co-ordination involving oxygen atoms of five independent β-d-glucopyranose 6-sulphate molecules. The n.m.r. spectrum of the 6-sulphate in the solid state is consistent with the occurrence of two molecules in the unit cell related by a 2₁ symmetry axis.     

β-d-glucosidase-catalysed transfer of the glycosyl group from aryl β-d-gluco- and β-d-xylo-pyranosides to phenols

The effect of phenols on the hydrolysis of substituted phenyl β-d-gluco- and β-d-xylo-pyranosides by β-d-glucosidase from Stachybotrys atra has been investigated. Depending on the glycon part of the substrate and on the phenol substituent, the hydrolysis is either inhibited or activated. With aryl β-d-xylopyranosides, transfer of the xylosyl residue to the phenol, with the formation of new phenyl β-d-xylopyranosides, is observed. With aryl β-d-glucopyranosides, such transfer does not occur when phenols are used as acceptors, but it does occur with anilines. A two-step mechanism, in which the first step is partially reversible, is proposed to explain these observations. A qualitative analysis of the various factors determining the overall effect of the phenol is given.     

The crystal and molecular structure of 1,6-anhydro-β-d-mannopyranose

The crystal structure of 1,6-anhydro-β-d-mannopyranose, C₆H₁₀O₅, is orthorhombic, P2₁2₁2₁, with a = 10.971(2), b = 13.935(3), c = 9.012(1) Å, V = 1377.76 »³ (MoKα, λ = 0.7107 Å), Z = 8, D_x = 1.563 M.gm⁻³, D_m = 1.565 M.gm⁻³. the structure was solved by MULTAN and refined to R(F) = 0.043 for 2355 reflections. The two symmetry-independent molecules in the unit cell have similar conformations, except for the orientation of one of the three hydroxyl groups. The conformation of the pyranose rings is ¹C₄ distorted towards E_o, and that of the anhydro rings is E. There are significant differences between the two molecules in two of the four C---O bond-lengths. These occur where there are important differences in the hydrogen-bonding environment of the oxygen atoms. The molecules are hydrogen-bonded by three linear and three bifurcated O---H···O interactions which form four-membered loops linked into infinite chains. Empirical force-field calculations with MMI-CARB reproduced the geometry of the molecules within the variations observed experimentally between the two molecules, except for a C---O bond in one of the molecules. The effect of excluding the anomeric effect from the theoretical calculations was not significant. Calculations for an intramolecularly hydrogen-bonded molecule were also carried out as a model for the molecules in a non-polar solvent.     

Efficient synthesis of d-xylo and d-ribo-phytosphingosines from methyl 2-amino-2-deoxy-β-d-hexopyranosides

A general and flexible synthetic approach to biologically important 5,6-unsaturated C₁₈-phytosphingosines was developed via olefin cross-metathesis employing truncated C₆-phytosphingosines as the key intermediates. These were efficiently prepared in high yields by zinc-mediated reductive opening of methyl 2-amino-2-deoxy-β-hexopyranosides.

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The stepwise synthesis of methyl α-isomaltooligoside derivatives and methyl α-isomaltopentaoside

Methyl 2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-α-D-glucopyranoside was treated with 2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-6-O-(N-phenylcarbamoyl)-1-O-tosyl-D-glucopyranose in diethyl ether to give methyl 2,3,4,2',3',4'-hexa-O-benzyl-6'-O-(N-phenylcarbamoyl)-α-isomaltoside. The disaccharide was decarbanilated in ethanol with sodium ethoxide to give methyl 2,3,4,2',3',4'-hexa-O-benzyl-α-isomaltoside. The sequence of coupling with the same 1-O-tosyl-D-glucose derivative followed by removal of the N-phenylcarbamate group was repeated until the hexasaccharide derivative, methyl octadeca-O-benzyl-α-isomaltohexaoside, was formed. Methyl α-isomaltopentaoside was prepared by debenzylation of the corresponding benzylated oligosaccharide. The structures of the oligosaccharides were determined with the aid of both ¹H- and ¹³C-n.m.r. spectroscopy. From spectral data, we estimate the coupling reaction to be 95% stereoselective.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (1-alkoxyalkyl) α- and β-d-glucopyranosiduronates (acetal-glucopyranosiduronates): A new approach to specific cytostatics for the treatment of cancer

The reaction of methyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-1-O-trimethylsilyl-β- (5) and -α-d-glucopyranuronate (6) severally with the dimethyl or diethyl acetals of formaldehyde, bromoacetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, 3-benzyloxypropionaldehyde, 5-carboxypentanal, and 2-bromohexanal in the presence of catalytic amounts of trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate at −78° gave the corresponding (1-alkoxyalkyl) α- and β-glycosides (acetal-glucopyranosiduronates) with retention of configuration at C-1 in yields of 41–91%. Instead of the dialkyl acetals, the corresponding aldehydes and alkyl trimethylsilyl ether can be used. Deacetylation gave the corresponding methyl (acetal-β- and -α-d-glucopyranosid)uronates in good yield. De-esterification of methyl [(1R)-1-methoxybutyl β-d-glucopyranosid]uronate with esterase gave the acetal-β-d-glucopyranosiduronic acid which was an excellent substrate for β-d-glucuronidase.     

Purification and properties of a wheat leaf N-acetyl-β-d-hexosaminidase

An N-acetyl-β-d-hexosaminidase has been purified from primary wheat leaves (Triticum aestivum L.) by freeze-thawing, (NH₄)₂SO₄ precipitation, methanol precipitation, gel filtration, cation exchange chromatography and affinity chromatography on concanavalin A-Sepharose. The activity of the purified preparations could be stabilised by addition of Triton X-100 and the enzyme was stored at -20°C without significant loss of activity. The enzyme hydrolysed pNP-β-d-GlcNAc (optimum pH 5.2, K_m 0.29 mM, V_max 2.56 μkat mg⁻¹) and pNP-β-d-GalNAc (optimum pH 4.4, K_m 0.27 mM, V_max 2.50 μkat mg⁻¹). Five major isozymes were identified, with isoelectric points in the range 5.13–5.36. All five isozymes possessed both N-acety-β-d-glucosaminidase and N-acetyl-β-d-galactosaminidase activity. Inhibition studies and mixed substrate analysis suggested that both substrates are catalysed by the same active site. Both activities were inhibited by GlcNAc, 2-acetamido-2-deoxygluconolactone, GalNAc and the ions of mercury, silver and copper. The K_is for inhibition of N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase activity were: GlcNAc (15.3 mM) and GalNAc (3.4mM). For inhibition of N-acety-β-d-galactosaminidase activity the corresponding values were: GlcNAc (18.2 mM) and GalNac (2.5 mM). The enzyme was considerably less active at releasing pNP from pNP-β-d-(GlcNAc)₂ and pNP-β-d-(GlcNAc)₃ than from pNP-β-d-GlcNAc. The ability of the N-acetyl-β-d-hexosaminidase to relase GlcNAc from chitin oligomers (GlcNAc)₂ (optimum pH 5.0) and (GlcNAc)₃₋₆ (optimum pH 4.4) was also low. Analysis of the reaction products revealed that the initial products from the hydrolysis of (GlcNAc)_n were predominantly (GlcNAc)_n−1 and GlcNAc.     

Action of Endo-(1 → 6)-α-d-glucanases on the soluble dextrans produced by three extracellular α-d-glucosyltransferases of Streptococcus sobrinus

Four different α-d-glucosyltransferases (GTF) have been obtained from culture filtrates of Streptococcus sobrinus strains grown in the chemostat at pH 6·5 in complex medium supplemented with Tween 80. Three of the enzymes, GTF-S1, GTF-S3 and GTF-S4, converted sucrose into soluble glucans. Their limit of hydrolysis with endodextranase, the proportion of linear to branched oligosaccharides among the end products of enzymic degradation, and methylation analysis, all supported the view that the glucans were dextrans. The S1-dextrans were highly branched (32% of α-(1 → 3)-branch points), S3-dextrans were linear, and the branching of S4-dextrans was intermediate in value (9%). The enzymes that catalyze the synthesis of three such diverse dextrans were thus proved to be three different GTF, each with a characteristic specificity. Conditions of growth in the chemostat could be varied to provide maximum yields of either GTF-S1, -S3 or -S4.