Syntheses of methyl 2,6-diacetamido-2,3,6-trideoxy-α-d-ribo-hexopyranoside (methyl di-N-acetyl-α-d-tobrosaminide) and methyl 2-acetamido-2,3,6-trideoxy-β-l-lyxo-hexopyranoside

The title glycosides were synthesised from d-glucose, via the common intermediate methyl 2-acetamido-4-O-benzoyl-6-bromo-2,3,6-trideoxy-α-d-ribo-hexopyranoside.     

Synthesis of daunosamine-containing disaccharides

Treatment of 2,3,6-trideoxy-1,4-di-O-(p-nitrobenzoyl)-3-(trifluoroacetamido)-l-lyxo-hexopyranose (1) with benzyl 2,3-dideoxy-d-glycero-pentopyranoside and p-toluenesulfonic acid gave a mixture of benzyl 2,3,6-trideoxy-4-O-p-nitrobenzoyl-3- (trifluoroacetamido)-l-lyxo-hexopyranoside (49%) and benzyl 2,3-dideoxy-4-O-[2,3,6-trideoxy-4-O-(p-nitrobenzoyl)-3-(trifluoroacetamido)-α-l-lyxo-hexopyranosyl]-d-glycero-pentopyranoside (4, 20 %). The structure of the disaccharide 4 was confirmed by a detailed, mass-spectrometric analysis in three modes, namely, negative- and positive-ion, chemical ionization, and electron impact. Similar treatment of the bis(p-nitrobenzoate) 1 with ethyl 2,3-dideoxy-d-glycero-pentopyranoside gave the ethyl glycoside and the desired disaccharide, showing that the transglycosylation is not restricted to benzyl glycosides. Removal of the p-nitrobenzoyl and the benzyl groups from 4 gave the disaccharide 2,3-dideoxy-4-O-(2,3,6-trideoxy-3-trifluoroacetamido-α-l-lyxo-hexopyranosyl)-d-glycero-pentopyranose.     

An approach to branched-chain amino sugars,particularly derivatives of l-vancosamine (3-amino-2,3,6-trideoxy-3-C-methyl-l-lyxo-hexose) and its d enantiomer,via the cyanohydrin route

Methyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-2-deoxy-α-d-erythro-hexopyranosid-3-ulose reacted with potassium cyanide under equilibrating conditions to give, initially, methyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-3-C-cyano-2-deoxy-α-d-ribo-hexopyranoside (7), which, because it reverted slowly to the thermodynamically stable d-arabino isomer, could be crystallised directly from the reaction mixture. The mesylate derived from the kinetic product 7 could be converted by published procedures into methyl 3-acetamido-2,3,6-trideoxy-3-C-methyl-α-d-arabino-hexopyranoside, which was transformed into methyl N-acetyl-α-d-vancosaminide on inversion of the configuration at C-4. A related approach employing methyl 2,6-dideoxy-4-O-methoxymethyl-α-l-erythro-hexopyranosid-3-ulose gave the kinetic cyanohydrin and thence, via the spiro-aziridine 27, methyl 3-acetamido-2,3,6-trideoxy-3-C-methyl-α-l-arabino-hexopyranoside, a known precursor of methyl N-acetyl-α-l-vancosaminide.     

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.     

Synthesis of N-[2-O-(2-acetamido-2,3-dideoxy-5-thio-d-glucopyranose-3-yl)-d-lactoyl]-l-alanyl-d-isoglutamine

N-[2-O-(2-Acetamido-2,3-dideoxy-5-thio-d-glucopyranose-3-yl)-d-lactoyl]-l-alanyl-d-isoglutamine, in which the ring-oxygen atom of the sugar moiety in N-acetylmuramoyl-l-alanyl-d-isoglutamine (MDP) has been replaced by sulfur, was synthesized from 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-5-thio-α-d-glucopyranose (1). O-Deacetylation of the acetylated acetal, derived from the methyl α-glycoside of 1 by 4,6-O-isopropylidenation and subsequent acetylation, gave methyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-4,6-O-isopropylidene-5-thio-α-d-glucopyranoside (4). Condensation of 4 with l-2-chloropropanoic acid, and subsequent esterification, afforded the corresponding ester, which was converted, viaO-deisopropylidenation, acetylation, and acetolysis, into 2-acetamido-1,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-3-O-[d-1-(methoxycarbonyl)ethyl]-5-thio-α-d-glucopyranose (12). Coupling of the acid, formed from 12 by hydrolysis, with the methyl ester of l-alanyl-d-isoglutamine, and de-esterification, yielded the title compound.     

Synthesis of 2,6-di(acylamino)-2,6-dideoxy-3-O-(d-2-propanoyl-l-alanyl-d-isoglutamine)-d-glucopyranoses

Five 2,6-di(acylamino)-2,6-dideoxy-3-O-(d-2-propanoyl-l-alanyl-d-isoglutamine)-d-glucopyranoses (lipophilic, muramoyl dipeptide analogs) were synthesized from benzyl 2-(benzyloxycarbonylamino)-3-O-(d-1-carboxyethyl)-2-deoxy-5,6-O-isopropylidene-β-dglucopyranoside (1). Methanesulfonylation of 3, derived from the methyl ester of 1 by O-deisopropylidenation, gave the 6-methanesulfonate (4). (Tetrahydropyran-2-yl)ation of 4 gave benzyl 2-(benzyloxycarbonylamino)-2-deoxy-3-O-[d-1-(methoxycarbonyl)ethyl]-6-O-(methylsulfonyl)-5-O-(tetrahydropyran-2-yl)-β-d- glucofuranoside, which was treated with sodium azide to give the corresponding 6-azido derivative (6). Condensation of benzyl 6-amino-2-(benzyloxycarbonyl-amino)-2,6-dideoxy-3-O-[d-1-(methoxycarbonyl)ethyl]-5-O-(tetrahydropyran-2-yl)-β-d-glucofuranoside, derived from 6 by reduction, with the activated esters of octanoic, hexadecanoic, and eicosanoic acid gave the corresponding 6-N-fatty acyl derivatives (8–10). Coupling of the 2-amino derivatives, obtained from compounds 8, 9, and 10 by catalytic reduction, with the activated esters of the fatty acids, gave the 2,6-(diacylamino)-2,6-dideoxy derivatives (11–15). Condensation of the acids, formed from 11–15 by de-esterification, with the benzyl ester of l-alanyl-d-isoglutamine, and subsequent hydrolysis, afforded benzyl 2,6-di(acylamino)-2,6-dideoxy-3-O-(d-2-propanoyl-l-alanyl-d-isoglutamine benzyl ester)-β-d-glucofuranosides. Hydrogenation of the dipeptide derivatives thus obtained gave the five lipophilic analogs of 6-amino-6-deoxymuramoyl dipeptide, respectively, in good yields.     

The linkage of 4-O-methyl-L-galactose in the sulphated polysaccharide of Aeodes ulvoidea

Methyl 2-acetamido-5,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-β-d-glucofuranoside (11) was obtained in six steps from the known methyl 3-O-allyl-2-benzamido-2-deoxy-5,6-O-isopropylidene-β-d-glucofuranoside. Mild acid hydrolysis, followed by benzylation gave the 5,6-dibenzyl ether. The benzamido group was exchanged for an acetamido group by strong alkaline hydrolysis, followed by N-acetylation, and the allyl group was isomerized into a 1-propenyl group that was hydrolyzed with mercuric chloride. Treatment of 11 with l-α-chloropropionic acid and with diazomethabe gave methyl 2-acetamido-5,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-3-O-[d-1-(methoxycarbonyl)ethyl]-β-d-glucofuranoside which formed on mercaptolysis the internal ester 16, further converted into 2-acetamido-4-O-acetyl-5,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-3-O-[d-1-(methoxycarbonyl)ethyl]-d-glucose diethyl dithioacetal (18) by alkaline treatment followed by esterification with diazomethane and acetylation. Attempts to remove the O-acetyl group of the corresponding dimethyl acetal 20 with sodium methoxide in mild conditions were not successful.     

Synthesis of 2,4-diacetamido-2,4,6-trideoxy-D-Galactose

Treatment of benzyl 2-acetamido-3-O-benzyl-2,6-dideoxy-4-O-(methylsulfonyl)-α-D-glucopyranoside (1) with sodium azide in hexamethylphosphoric triamide gave the 4-azido-α-D-galacto derivative (2), which was converted into benzyl 2,4-di-acetamido-3-O-benzyl-2,3,6-trideoxy-α-D-galactopyranoside (3) by hydrogenation and subsequent acetylation. Hydrogenolysis of 3 at atmospheric pressure afforded benzyl 2,4-diacetamido-2,4,6-tridcoxy-α-D-galactopyranoside (4), which was acetylated to give the 3-O-acetyl derivative (5). The n.m.r. spectrum of 5 was in agreement with the assigned structure and different from that of benzyl 2,4-di-acetamido-3-O-acetyl-α-D-glucopyranoside (9), which was prepared from the known benzyl 2,4-diacetamido-3-O-benzyl-2,4,6-trideoxy-α-D-glucopyranoside. Catalytic hydrogenolysis of 4 gave 2,4-diacetamido-2,4,6-trideoxy-D-galactose (6).     

The synthesis of 3-amino-2,3,6-trideoxy-l-xylo-hexopyranose derivatives

Derivatives (the 3-acetamido-4-benzoate 12, the 3-acetamido-4-acetate 13, and the N-acetyl derivative 14) of the methyl glycoside of the title sugar were prepared in a sequence of high-yielding steps from methyl 3-azido-4,6-O-benzylidene-2,3-di-deoxy-α-d-arabino-hexopyranoside (4). N-Bromosuccinimide converted 4 into the crystalline 4-O-benzoyl-6-bromide 5, which was treated with silver fluoride to afford the 5,6-unsaturated glycoside 6. Catalytic hydrogenation of 6 led, essentially, to a 7:1 mixture of 12 and its 5-epimeric d-arabino isomer 7. Alternatively, 6 was debenzoylated to 10, and the latter treated with lithium aluminum hydride to give crystalline methyl 3-amino-2,3,6-trideoxy-α-d-threo-hex-5-enopyranoside (11). Reduction of 11 (as its salt) by hydrogen, with subsequent N-acetylation, furnished the methyl β-l-xylo-glycoside 13 almost exclusively, with net inversion at C-5. Compound 13 was readily converted into the crystalline target compound 14. When dehydrobromination by silver fluoride was attempted with the 3-acetamido analog (2) of 5, a 3,6-anhydro product (1) was obtained, instead of the expected 5,6-alkene 3.     

An application of the palladium-catalyzed,allylic amination of unsaturated sugars: a new synthesis of d-forosamine

Methyl 4-O-benzoyl-6-bromo-6-deoxy-α-d-glucopyranoside, obtainable from methyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-α-d-glucopyranoside (1), was converted into the 2,3-unsaturated 4-benzoate (3) by application of the triiodoimidazole method. Debenzoylation of 3, followed by acetylation, afforded crystalline methyl 4-O-acetyl-6-bromo-2,3,6-trideoxy-α-d-erythro-hex-2-enopyranoside (5). Treatment of 5 with benzylmethylamine under conditions of palladium-catalyzed, allylic substitution gave a separable mixture of the corresponding 4-(N-benzyl)methylamino-6-bromo-2-enoside (37%) and the 4,6-di-[(N-benzyl)methylamino]-2-enoside (55%). Debromination of 5 with lithium triethylborohydride, proceeding with simultaneous deacetylation, readily yielded methyl 2,3,6-trideoxy-α-d-erythro-hex-2-enopyranoside (8). The 4-acetate of 8 (obtained by reacetylation), and also its 4-benzoate (prepared by a different synthetic route), furnished high yields (～80%) of methyl 4-[(N-benzyl)-methylamino]-2,3,4,6-tetradeoxy-α-d-erythro-hex-2-enopyranoside (13) upon palladium-catalyzed animation with benzylmethylamine. Catalytic hydrogenation of 13 effected saturation of the alkenic double bond and removal of the N-benzyl group, to afford methyl 2,3,4,6-tetradeoxy-4-methylamino-α-d-erythro-hexopyranoside, which was subsequently N-methylated with formaldehyde and sodium borohydride, to give its N,N-dimethyl analog, methyl α-d-forosaminide (15). The overall yield of 15 from 1 was 24%. Hydrolysis of 15 to the free sugar has been described previously.     

Synthesis of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-3-O-β-d-mannopyranosyl-d-glucose

Condensation of 4,6-di-O-acetyl-2,3-O-carbonyl-α-d-mannopyranosyl bromide with benzyl 2-acetamido-4,6-O-benzylidene-2-deoxy-α-d-glucopyranoside (2) gave an α-d-linked disaccharide, further transformed by removal of the carbonyl and benzylidene groups and acetylation into the previously reported benzyl 2-acetamido-4,6-O-benzylidene-2-deoxy-3-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-α-d-mannopyranosyl)-α-d-glucopyranoside. Condensation of 3,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-1,2-O-(1-ethoxyethylidene)-α-d-glucopyranose or 2-O-acetyl-3,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-α-d-glucopyranosyl bromide with 2 gave benzyl 2-acetamido-3-O-(2-O-acetyl-3,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-4,6-O-benzylidene-2-deoxy-α-d-glucopyranoside. Removal of the acetyl group at O-2, followed by oxidation with acetic anhydride-dimethyl sulfoxide, gave the β-d-arabino-hexosid-2-ulose 14. Reduction with sodium borohydride, and removal of the protective groups, gave 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-3-O-β-d-mannopyranosyl-d-glucose, which was characterized as the heptaacetate. The anomeric configuration of the glycosidic linkage was ascertained by comparison with the α-d-linked analog.     

Synthesis of the methyl thioglycosides of deoxy-N-acetyl-neuraminic acids for use as glycosyl donors

Methyl 2-thioglycoside derivatives of 4-, 7-, 8-, and 9-deoxy-N-acetylneuraminic acids have been prepared as glycosyl donors for the synthesis of sialoglycoconjates. Reduction of a (phenoxy)thiocarbonyl group, selectively introduced at the 4 position of methyl [2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl 5-acetamido-3,5-dideoxy-8,9-O-isopropylidene-d-glycero- α-d-galacto-2-nonulopyranosid]onate (1), gave the 4-deoxy compound, which was transformed via O-deisopropylidenation, acetylation, selective removal of the 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl group, subsequent acetylation, and displacement of the 2-acetoxy group by a methylthio group, into methyl (methyl 5-acetamido-7,8,9-tri-O-acetyl-3,4,5-trideoxy-2-thio-d-manno-2-nonulopyranosid)onate (17). Methyl [2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl 5-acetamido-8,9-di-O-acetyl-4-O-benzoyl-3,5,7-trideoxy-α-d-galacto-2- nonulopyranosid]onate, prepared from 1 in five steps, and methyl [2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl 5-acetamido-4,7,9-tri-O-acetyl-3,5,8-trideoxy-α-d-galacto-2-nonulopyranosid]onate, prepared from 1 in six steps, were converted via selective removal of the 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl group, O-acetylation, and displacement of the 2-acetoxy group by a methylthio group as described for 17, into the corresponding methyl 7- and 8-deoxy-2-thioglycosides. Reductive dechlorination of methyl [2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl 5-acetamido-4,7-di-O-benzoyl-9-chloro-3,5,9-trideoxy-d-glycero-α-d-galacto-2-nonulopyranosid]onate, prepared from methyl [2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl 5-acetamido-3,5-dideoxy-d-glycero-α-d-galacto-2-nonulopyranosid]onate by selective 9-O-tert-butyldimethylsilylation, benzoylation, removal of the 9-silyl group, and selective chlorination, gave a 9-deoxy compound. This was transformed, via O-debenzoylation, O-acetylation, selective removal of the 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl group, 2-O-acetylation, 2-chlorination, displacement with potassium thioacetate, selective S-deacetylation, and S-methylation, into the methyl 2-thio-α-glycoside of 9-deoxy-N-acetylneuraminic acid.     

A synthetic approach to polysialogangliosides containing α-sialyl-(2 → 8)-sialic acid: total synthesis of ganglioside GD3

A stereocontrolled, facile total synthesis of ganglioside GD₃ is described as an example of a proposed systematic approach to the preparation of gangliosides containing an α-sialyl-(2 → 8)-sialic acid unit α-glycosidically linked to O-3 of a d-galactose reesidue in their oligosaccharide chains. Glycosylation of 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl 6-O-benzoyl-, 3-O-benzoyl-, or 3-O-benzyl-β-d-galactopyranosides, or 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl 2,3,6,2′,6′-penta-O-benzyl-β-lactoside (7), with methyl [phenyl 5-acetamido-8-O-(5-acetamido-4,7,8,9- tetra-O-acetyl-3,5-dideoxy-d-glycero-α-d-galacto-2-nonulopyranosyl-ono-1′,9-lactone)-4,7-di-O-acetyl-3,5-dideoxy-2-thio- d-glycero-d-galacto-2-nonulopyranosid]onate (3), using N-iodosuccinimide-trifluoromethanesulfonic acid as a promoter, gave the corresponding α glycosides 8 (32%), 13 (33%), 14 (48%), and 17 (31%), respectively. The glycyl donor 3 was prepared from O-(5-acetamido-3,5-dideoxy-d-glycero-α-d-galacto-2-nonulopyranosylonic acid)-(2 → 8)-5-acetamido-3,5-dideoxy-d-glycero- d-galacto-2-nonulopyranosonic acid by treatment with Amberlite IR-120 (H⁺) in methanol, O-acetylation, and subsequent replacement of the anomeric acetoxy group with phenylthio. Compound 8 was converted into the methyl β-thioglycoside via O-benzoylation, replacement of the 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl group by acetyl, and introduction of the methylthio group by reaction with methylthiotrimethylsilane. Compound 17 was converted, via O-acetylation, selective removal of the 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl group, and reaction with trichloroacetonitrile, into the α-trichloroacetimidate, which was coupled with (2S,3R,4E)-2-azido-3O-benzoyl-4-octadecene-1,3-diol to give the β-glycoside. This glycoside was easily transformed, via selective reduction of the azido group, condensation with octadecanoic acid, O-deacylation, and hydrolysis of the methyl ester and lactone functions, into ganglioside GD₃.     

Synthesis of 3-amino-2,3,6-trideoxy-d-ribo- and -l-lyxo-hexofuranoses suitable for nucleoside synthesis

N-Acetylepidaunosamine (3-acetamido-2,3,6-trideoxy-d-ribo-hexopyranose) was converted into the diethyl dithioacetal and this was cyclized with HgCi₂, HgO, and MeOH, to give methyl 3-acetamido-2,3,6-trideoxy-α- and -β-d-ribo-hexofuranoside (4 and 5). These anomers were acetylated or (p-nitrobenzoyl)ated, and the esters were subjected to acetolysis, to afford 3-acetamido-1,5-di-O-acetyl-2,3,6-trideoxy-d-ribo-hexofuranose and 3-acetamido-1-O-acetyl-2,3,6-trideoxy-5-O-(p-nitrobenzoyl)-d-ribo-hexofuranose, respectively. Alternatively, compounds 4 and 5 were hydrolyzed to the free bases with barium hydroxide, and these were converted into the trifluoroacetamido derivatives which, on (p-nitrobenzoyl)ation and acetolysis, afforded 1-O-acetyl-2,3,6-trideoxy-5-O-(p-nitrobenzoyl)-3-(trifluoroacetamido)-d-ribo-hexofuranose. To prepare the corresponding daunosamine derivative, 2,3,6-trideoxy-3-(trifluoroacetamido)-l-lyxo-hexopyranose was converted into the diethyl dithioacetal, and this was cyclized in the same way, to afford methyl 2,3,6-trideoxy-3-(trifluoroacetamido)-α- and -β-l-lyxo-hexofuranoside. On (p-nitrobenzoyl)ation and acetolysis, both afforded 1-O-acetyl-2,3,6-trideoxy-5-O-(p-nitrobenzoyl)-3-(trifluoroacetamido)-l-lyxo-hexofuranose.     

Synthesis of higher-carbon sugars via vinyltin derivatives of simple monosaccharides

6-O-Benzyl-7,8-dideoxy-1,2:3,4-di-O-isopropylidene-l-glycero-α-d-galacto-oct-7-ynopyranose reacted with tributyltin hydride to afford (Z-6-O-benzyl-7,8-dideoxy-1,2:3,4-di-O-isopropylidene-8-(tributylstannyl)-l-glycero-α-d-galacto-oct-7-enopyranose, which was subsequently isomerized to the E-olefin 4. Replacement of the tributyltin moietey with lithium in 4 afforded the vinyl anion which reacted with 3-O-benzyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-d-xylo-pentodialdo-1,4-furanose, furnishing 3-O-benzyl-6-C-[(E)-6-O-benzyl-7-deoxy-1,2:3,4-di-O-isopropylidene-l-glycero-α-d-galacto-heptopyranos-7-ylidene] -60-deoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-d-gluco- (6) and -β-l-ido-furanose (7) in yields of ∼70 or ∼87% (depending on the temperature of the reaction). The configurations of the new chiral centers in 6 and 7 were determined by their conversion into 3-O-benzyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-d-gluco- and -β-l-ido-furanose, respectively. Oxidation of 6 and 7 gave the same enone, 3-O-benzyl-6-C-[(E)-6-O-benzyl-7-deoxy-1,2:3,4-di-O-isopropylidene-l-glycero-α-d-galacto- heoptopyranos-7-ylidene]-6-deoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-d-xylo-hexofuranos-5-ulose.     

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.     

Glycosidation at C-4 of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranose derivatives by koenigs-knorr type condensations

The condensation of 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-D-glucopyranosyl bromide and 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-D-mannopyranosyl chloride with benzyl 2-acetamido-3,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-α-D-glucopyranoside (1), under Koenigs-Knorr conditions, gave the fully benzylated derivatives of benzyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-4-O-α-D-glucopyranosyl-α-D-glucopyranoside, benzyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-4-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-α-D-glucopyranoside, and benzyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-4-O-α-D-mannopyranosyl-α-D-glucopyranoside. Three further compounds, namely, benzyl 2-acetamido-3-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-6-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-D-glucopyranosyl)-α-D-glucopyranoside, benzyl 2-acetamido-3-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-6-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-D)-mannopyranosyl)-α-D-glucopyranoside, and benzyl 2-acetamido-3-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-4,6-di-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-D-mannopyranosyl)-α-D-glucopyranoside, were formed by reaction of the respective glycosyl halide with benzyl 2-acetamido-3-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-α-D-glucopyranoside present as contaminant in 1.     

Silylmethylene radical cyclization. A stereoselective approach to branched sugars

Ethyl 6-O-benzyl-2,3-dideoxy-α-d-erythro-hex-2-enopyranoside (2) was converted, in three steps and in 73% overall yield, into ethyl 6-O-benzyl-2,3-dideoxy-3-C-(hydroxymethyl)-α-d-ribo-hex-2-enopyranoside. This transformation involved silylation of 2 with (bromomethyl)chlorodimethylsilane and application of the Nishiyama-Stork radical cyclisation, followed by Tamao oxidation of the sila cycle. Ethyl 6-O-benzyl-2,3-dideoxy-α-d-threo-hex-2-enopyranoside and benzyl 2,6-di-O-benzyl-α-l-threo-hex-4-enopyranoside were similarly transformed into, respectively, ethyl 6-O-benzyl-2,3-dideoxy-3-C-(hydroxymethyl)-α-d-lyxo-hex-2-enopyranoside (50%), and benzyl 2,6-di-O-benzyl-4-deoxy-4-C-(hydroxymethyl)-β-d-galactopyranoside (71%).     

Synthesis of 3-amino-2,3,6-trideoxy-ll-lyxo-hexose (daunosamine) hydrochloride from d-glucose

Three different approaches starting from 1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-d-glucofuranose were tested for the synthesis of daunosamine hydrochloride (24), the sugar constituent of the antitumor antibiotics daunomycin and adriamycin. The third route, affording 24 in ~5% overall yield in 11 steps, constitutes a useful, preparative synthesis, 3,5,6-Tri-O-benzoyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-d-glucofuranose was converted via methyl 2,3-anhydro-β-d-mannofuranoside into methyl 2,3:5,6-dianhydro-α-l-gulofuranoside, the terminal oxirane ring of which was split selectively on reduction with borohydride, to afford methyl 2,3-anhydro-6-deoxy-α-l-gulofuranoside (31). Compound 31 was converted into methyl 2,3-anhydro-5-O-benzyl-6-deoxy-α-l-gulofuranoside, which was selectively reduced at C-2 on treatment with lithium aluminum hydride, affording methyl 5-O-benzyl-2,6-dideoxy-α-l-xylo-hexofuranoside. Subsequent mesylation, and replacement of the mesoloxy group by azide, with inversion, afforded methyl 3-azido-5-O-benzyl-2,6-dideoxy-α-l-lyxo-hexofuranoside, which could be converted into either 24 or methyl 3-acetamido-5-O-acetyl-2,3,6-trideoxy-α-l-lyxo-hexofuranoside, which can be used as a starting material for the synthesis of daunomycin analogs.     

Methylation of nitro sugars with diazomethane,and preparation of some new amino sugar methyl ethers

Diazomethane reacted with methyl 3,6-dideoxy-3-nitro-α-l-glucopyranoside (1) under catalysis by boron trifluoride to give the 2-O-methyl and the 2,4-di-O-methyl derivative (2 and 3). Similarly, the 4-acetate (4) of 1 afforded the 4-acetate (5) of 2. Boron trifluoride-catalyzed acetylation of 2 at about ?60° gave 5 whereas, at 0°, acetolysis took place producing 1,4-di-O-acetyl-3,6-dideoxy-2-O-methyl-3-nitro-α-l-glucopyranose (6). Diazomethane treatment of methyl 3,4,6-trideoxy-3-nitro-α-l-erythro- and -α-l-threo-hex-3-enopyranosides 7 and 8 furnished the corresponding 2-O-methyl derivatives 9 and 10. With triphenylphosphine and carbon tetrachloride, 2 yielded methyl 4-chloro-3,4,6-trideoxy-2-O-methyl-3-nitro-α-l-galactopyranoside (11) which was dehydrochlorinated to 9. Borohydride reduction of 9 gave methyl 3,4,6-trideoxy-2-O-methyl-3-nitro-α-l-xylo-hexopyranoside (12). Catalytic hydrogenation of 3 and 12 afforded the corresponding amino sugar hydrochlorides 13 and 15. Treatment of 5 with ammonia gave a 4-amino-3-nitro glycoside (isolated as the hydrochloride 17) hydrogenation of which led to methyl 3,4-diamino-3,4,6-trideoxy-2-O-methyl-α-l-glucopyranoside dihydrochloride (19). The N-acetyl derivatives (14, 16, 18, and 20) of the four new amino sugars were prepared.