Selective esterification of 1,6-anhydrohexopyranoses: The possible role of intramolecular hydrogen-bonding

Selective esterification reactions of 1,6-anhydro-3-deoxy-β-D-xylo-hexopyranose(1), 1,6-anhydro-β-D-glucopyranose (7), and several derivatives of 7, were conducted with an acid chloride or acid anhydride in pyridine. Reaction of 1 with p-toluenesulfonyl chloride and with benzoyl chloride gave 70 and 63%, respectively, of the 2-esters. The 2-methyl and 2-benzyl ethers of 7, both having strongly hydrogen-bonded C-4 hydroxyl group, reacted with p-toluenesulfonyl chloride to yield the 4-monosulfonates (71 and 74%, respectively). Esterification of the 2-methyl ether and 2-p-toluenesulfonate of 7 with p-toluenesulfonic anhydride instead of with p-toluenesulfonyl chloride led to increased yields of the 4-p-toluenesulfonates after a shorter reaction-time.     

Synthesis of new branched-chain aminodeoxyhexoses related to daunosamine (3-amino-2,3,6-trideoxy-l-lyxo-hexose)

Addition of methylmagnesium iodide to methyl 2,3,6-trideoxy-3-trifluoro-acetamido-α-l-threo-hexopyranosid-4-ulose (3) gave methyl 2,3,6-trideoxy-4-C-methyl-3-trifluoroacetamido-α-l-lyxo-hexopyranoside (4) and its l-arabino analogue, depending upon the reaction temperature and the solvent. The corresponding 4-O-methyl derivatives were obtained by treatment of 4 and 5 with diazomethane in the presence of boron trifluoride etherate. Treatment of 4 with thionyl chloride, followed by an alkaline work-up, gave methyl, 2,3,4,6-tetradeoxy-4-C-methylene-3-trifluoro-acetamido-α-l-threo-hexopyranoside (8), which was stereoselectively reduced to methyl 2,3,4,6-tetradeoxy-4-C-methyl-3-trifluoroacetamido-α-l-arabino-hexopyranoside. Epoxidation of 8 with 3-chloroperoxybenzoic acid gave the corresponding 4,4₁-anhydro-4-C-hydroxymethyl-l-lyxo derivative (10), which was also prepared by treatment of 3 with diazomethane. Azidolysis of 10, followed by catalytic hydrogenation and N-trifluoroacetylation, gave methyl 2,3,6-trideoxy-3-trifuloroacetamido-4-C-trifluoroacetamidomethyl-α-l-lyxo-hexopyranoside.     

Synthèse de l'apiose et de composés voisins par des réactions de wittig

Treatment of 1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-D-glycero-tetros-3-ulofuranose (7) with cyanomethylenetriphenylphosphorane gave in excellent yield a mixture of the geometrical isomers of the corresponding cyanomethylenic derivative. After treatment with potassium permanganate, and then with sodium borohydride, this unsaturated, branched-chain sugar derivative was stereospecifically converted into 3-C-hydroxymethy]-1,2-O-isopropylidene-β-L-threofuranose. Similarly, treatment of the L-enantiomer of 7 with methylthiomethylenetriphenylphosphorane gave the expected methylthiomethylenic analogs, from which 3-deoxy-3-C-methyl and 3-deoxy-3-C-dimethoxymethyl derivatives were prepared. Wittig reactions thus allow the synthesis of branched-chain sugars bearing the side-chain on the more hindered side of the ring, compounds which are difficult to obtain by other methods.     

Grignard addition-reactions to glycosulose derivatives

The course of Grignard addition-reactions to 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-ribo-hexofuranos-3-ulose (1) has been examined as a function of the nature of the reagent, the solvent, the halide, and the temperature. Ethylmagnesium bromide in ether at — 14° converted 1 into 60% of the 3-C-ethyl-D-allo adduct 2. The latter was convertible in 90% yield into the 3-benzyl ether 6, despite the tertiary nature of the hydroxyl group. The use of tetrahydrofuran (THF) or THF-ether at higher temperatures, or of ethylmagnesium iodide, lowered the yield of 2 and gave substantial proportions of such side products as 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-allofuranose (3). 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-glucofuranose (4), and the hydrate (5) of the starting ketone 1. Phenylmagnesium bromide in ether or THF converted 1 into the 3-C-phenyl-D-allo derivative 7 in 84% yield, accompanied by only minor proportions of side products; the latter were the 3-C-phenyl-D-gluco adduct 8 and the product (9) of 5,6-dioxolane ring-opening. The structures of 8 and 9 were confirmed by an acetylation-deacetylation sequence, and by n.m.r. spectroscopy. The 3-C-phenyl-D- allo derivative 7 could be converted in 95% yield into its 3-benzyl ether 10. Cyclohexylmagnesium bromide reacted with 1 in ether or THF at various temperatures to give 3-C-cyclohexyl-1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D)-allofuranose (11) in low yields; the main product generally encountered was 3. with variable proportions of 4, 1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-D-allofuranose (18), the hydrate 5, and a dimeric product 19 (further characterized as its oxime 20). Compound 11 was, however, obtainable in >95% yield by reducing 7 with hydrogen in the presence of rhodium-on-alumina. Phenylmagnesium bromide reacted with the 4-ketone derivative 25 in THF at 0° to give 83% of 1,6-anhydro-2,3-O-isopropylidene-3-C-phenyl-β-D-talopyranose (26), and no side-products were detected.     

Synthesis of the 3- and 4-methyl, 3,4-dimethyl, and 3,4,6-trimethyl ethers of methyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-alpha-D-mannopyranoside

The methyl ethers of 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-mannose are reference compounds in studies, by the methylation procedure, of the chemical structure of polysaccharides containing 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-mannose and 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-mannuronic acid residues. Methylation of methyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-α-D-mannopyranoside (1) gave the 3,4,6-trimethyl ether. Methylation of the 6-trityl ether of 1, followed by detritylation, gave the 3,4-dimethyl ether of 1. Methylation of the 4,6-O-benzylidene derivative (6) of 1, followed by removal of the benzylidene group, gave the 3-methyl ether of 1. Benzoylation of 6, followed by removal of the benzylidene group and monobenzoylation, gave the 3,6-dibenzoate of 1, which was methylated, and the product saponified, to give the 4-methyl ether of 1; the latter compound was also obtained by a similar route via the 3-O-acetyl-6-O-benzoyl derivative.     

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.     

Synthesis of branched-chain sugar derivatives related to aldgarose

Ethynylation of 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-ribo-hexofuranos-3-ulose (1) gave the 3-C-ethynyl allo derivative 2, together with an adduct (3) resulting from interaction of two molecules of 1 with one of acetylene. Lithium aluminum hydride reduced the acetylenes 2 and 3 to the corresponding alkenes 4 and 8; on sequential ozonolysis-borohydride reduction, these both gave 3-C-(hydroxymethyl)-1,2:5,6-di- O-isopropylidene-α-D-allofuranose (6), further characterized as its 3,3¹-cyclic carbonate 9. Ozonolysis of the acetylene 2 gave the 3¹,5-lactone (5) of the 3-C-carboxy analog, thus establishing the stereochemistry of 2, which was independently established by n.m.r. spectroscopy employing a lanthanide shift-reagent. Treatment of 2 with mercuric acetate in ethyl acetate, followed by hydrogen sulfide, gave a mixture of the 3-C-acetyl-3-O-acetyl derivative 10 and a product (11) derived from internal cyclization of 5,6-deacetonated, O-deacetylated 10. Reduction of 10 with lithium aluminum hydride gave a separable mixture of diastereoisomeric 3-C-(l-hydroxy-ethyl) derivatives (12a, 12b) that were individually converted into their corresponding 3,3¹-cyclic carbonates 13a and 13b, products that contain the branch functionality of the unusual, branched-chain sugar aldgarose.     

Flavonoids from Wyethia glabra

Ten flavonoid compounds, including three new natural products, were isolated from a dichloromethane extract of Wyethia glabra. The known compounds are: orobol 7-methyl ether, orobol 3′-methyl ether, naringenin 7-methyl ether, eriodictyol, 8-C-prenyleriodictyol, 6-C-prenyleriodictyol and 8-C-prenylnaringenin. Eriodictyol 7-methyl ether, 2′,4′,6′-trihydroxy-4-methoxychalcone and 6-C-prenylnaringenin are new natural products. An additional prenylated flavanone was isolated and partially characterized.     

Diazomethane-catalysed rearrangement of α-d-glucopyranosyl esters of N-acylamino acids into 2-O-acylaminoacyl-α-d-glucopyranoses

Both anomers of 1-O-[N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-L-α-glutamyl]-d-glucopyranose (2) were converted into the unprotected 1-esters, characterised as the trifluoroacetate salts 3α and 3β. On esterification with diazomethane and acetylation, the N-acetylated derivative of 3β and 2β gave the peracetylated 1-O-[5-methyl N-acetyl- and -tert-butoxycarbonyl-L-glutam-1-oyl]-β-d-glucopyranoses (4β and 6β), respectively. Similar treatment of 2α and 3β led to acyl migration, to yield 1,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-2-O-[5-methyl N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-L-glutam-1-oyl]-α-d-glucopyranose (7α,64%) with traces of 7β, and a mixture (≈2:1:0.2) of the N-acetyl analogue of 7α (8α), 4α, and 8β, respectively. Treatment of 1-O-[5-methyl N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-L-glutam-1-oyl]-α-d-glucopyranose (10) and the corresponding glutam-5-oyl isomer 12 in N,N-dimethylformamide with diazomethane for 1 h resulted in 1 → 2 O-acyl transfer to give, upon acetylation, 7α and the fully acetylated 2-O-[1-methyl N-(tert-butoxy- carbonyl)-L-glutam-5-oyl]-α-d>-glucopyranose in yields of 70 and 90 %, respectively; in the absence of diazomethane, 10 and 12 remained unchanged. Similar experiments with α-d-glucopyranosyl esters of N-acetylglycine, N-acetylalanine, and N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)phenylalanine yielded the 2-O-acyl derivatives in high yields and with high retention of anomeric configuration. The structures of the rearrangement products were proved both spectroscopically and chemically. The results imply that diazomethane functions as a base in the migration process.     

Synthesis of 5,6-dideoxy-3-O-methyl-5-C-(phenylphosphinyl)-d-glucopyranose and its 1,2,4-triacetate

Methyl phenylphosphonite or dimethyl phosphite underwent acid-catalyzed addition reactions with some hexofuranos-5-ulose 5-(p-tolylsulfonylhydrazones) (7, 9, and 16), to give the corresponding adducts, 17, 18, 19, and 21. The isomer ratios of the adducts were affected by a 3-substituent in the hydrazones. Treatment of adduct 21 with sodium borohydride and sodium dihydrobis(2-methoxyethoxy)-aluminate (SDMA), followed by acid hydrolysis, gave 5,6-dideoxy-3-O-methyl-5-C-(phenylphosphinyl)-d-glucopyranose (26), which was acetylated to give the 1,2,4-tri-O-acetyl derivatives 27a and 27b. Conformational analysis of compound 27a by X-ray crystallography revealed that the compound was 1,2,4-tri-O-acetyl-5,6-dideoxy-3-O-methyl-5-C-[(S)-phenylphosphinyl]-β-d-glucopyranose in the ⁴C₁(d) form having all substituents equatorial.     

Reaction of derivatives of methyl 2,3-O-benzylidene-6-deoxy-α-L-mannopyranoside with butyllithium: Synthesis of methyl 2, 6-dideoxy-4-O-methyl-α-L-erytho-hexopyranosid-3-ulose

Methyl 2,3-O-benzylidene-6-deoxy-α-L-mannopyranoside (2) reacted with butyllithium to give a mixture of 1,5-anhydro-3-C-butyl-1,2,6-trideoxy-L-ribo-hex-1-enitol (3) and its L-arabino analogue (4), together with methyl 2,3,6-trideoxy-α-L-erythro-hex-2-enopyranoside (5). In contrast, the 4-O-methyl analogue (8) of 2 was converted by butyllithium into methyl 2,6-dideoxy-4-O-methyl-α-L-erythro-hexo-pyranosid-3-ulose (9), which was further characterized as its oxime 10. The 4-O-benzyl analogue of 8, obtained as two separate diastereoisomers (6 and 7) differing in configuration at C-2 of the dioxolane ring, gave a complex mixture of products on treatment with butyllithium.     

Ulmosides A and B: Flavonoid 6-C-glycosides from Ulmus wallichiana,stimulating osteoblast differentiation assessed by alkaline phosphatase

Chemical investigation of Ulmus wallichiana stem bark resulted in isolation and identification of three new compounds (2S,3S)-(+)-3′,4′,5,7-tetrahydroxydihydroflavonol-6-C-β-d-glucopyranoside (1), (2S,3S)-(+)-4′,5,7-trihydroxydihydroflavonol-6-C-β-d-glucopyranoside (3) and 3-C-β-d-glucopyranoside-2,4,6-trihydroxymethylbenzoate (8), together with five known flavonoid-6-C-glucosides (2, 4–7). Their structures were elucidated using 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis. The absolute stereochemistry in compounds 1 and 3 were established with the help of CD data analysis and comparison with the literature data analysis. All the isolated compounds (1–8) were assessed for promoting the osteoblast differentiation using primary culture of rat osteoblast as an in vitro system. Compounds 1–3 and 5 significantly increased osteoblast differentiation as assessed by alkaline phosphatase activity.     

Isolation of 2,5-anhydro-1,3-O-isopropylidene-6-O-trityl-D-glucitol and conformations of its 4-O-substituted and deprotected,acylated derivatives

Acidic dehydration of D-mannitol (1) gave a mixture of anhydrides (2) that was isopropylidenated and subsequently tritylated. A single component crystallized from the resulting mixture and was shown to be the novel 2,5-anhydro-1,3-O-isopropylidene-6-O-trityl-D-glucitol (4) by chemical and physical analysis and by comparison of its deprotected, dibenzoylated derivative (10) with authentic 2,5-anhydro-1,6-di-O-benzoyl-D-glucitol. Acid hydrolysis of 4 afforded pure 2,5-anhydro-D-glucitol (9) in better yield than by the previously reported route. The 4-O-acetyl (5), 4-O-chloro-acetyl (6), 4-O-methyl (7), and 4-O-(methylsulfonyl) (8) derivatives of 4, the tetra-O-acetyl (11) derivative of 9, and the 3,4-di-O-acetyl (12) derivative of 10, have been prepared and spectrally characterized. Complete proton-n.m.r. analysis yields first-order coupling constants that indicate the E₁ (D) conformation for the tetrahydrofuran ring and the chair conformation for the 1,3-dioxane ring of 4-2-8. Obtainable coupling constants suggest that 11 and 12 exist in the ^oE and/or ^oT₁, conformations.     

6-Methylpurine derived sugar modified nucleosides: Synthesis and evaluation of their substrate activity with purine nucleoside phosphorylases

6-Methylpurine (MeP) is cytotoxic adenine analog that does not exhibit selectivity when administered systemically, and could be very useful in a gene therapy approach to cancer treatment involving Escherichia coli PNP. The prototype MeP releasing prodrug, 9-(β-d-ribofuranosyl)-6-methylpurine, MeP-dR has demonstrated good activity against tumors expressing E. coli PNP, but its antitumor activity is limited due to toxicity resulting from the generation of MeP from gut bacteria. Therefore, we have embarked on a medicinal chemistry program to identify non-toxic MeP prodrugs that could be used in conjunction with E. coli PNP. In this work, we report on the synthesis of 9-(6-deoxy-β-d-allofuranosyl)-6-methylpurine (3) and 9-(6-deoxy-5-C-methyl-β-d-ribo-hexofuranosyl)-6-methylpurine (4), and the evaluation of their substrate activity with several phosphorylases. The glycosyl donors; 1,2-di-O-acetyl-3,5-di-O-benzyl-α-d-allofuranose (10) and 1-O-acetyl-3-O-benzyl-2,5-di-O-benzoyl-6-deoxy-5-C-methyl-β-d-ribohexofuran-ose (15) were prepared from 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidine-α-d-glucofuranose in 9 and 11 steps, respectively. Coupling of 10 and 15 with silylated 6-methylpurine under Vorbrüggen glycosylation conditions followed conventional deprotection of the hydroxyl groups furnished 5′-C-methylated-6-methylpurine nucleosides 3 and 4, respectively. Unlike 9-(6-deoxy-α-l-talo-furanosyl)-6-methylpurine, which showed good substrate activity with E. coli PNP mutant (M64V), the β-d-allo-furanosyl derivative 3 and the 5′-di-C-methyl derivative 4 were poor substrates for all tested glycosidic bond cleavage enzymes.     

Flavonoids in the leaves of Hillebrandia and Begonia species (Begoniaceae)

The fresh leaves of Hillebrandia sandwicensis and 126 Begonia taxa were chemotaxonomically surveyed for flavonoids. Of their taxa, H. sandwicensis and 119 species, one variety and three hybrids were analyzed for flavonoids for the first time. Ten flavonols and eleven C-glycosylflavones were isolated and characterized as quercetin 3-O-rutinoside (1), kaempferol 3-O-rutinoside (2), isorhamnetin 3-O-rutinoside (3), quercetin 3-O-glucoside (4), quercetin 3-methyl ether 7-O-rhamnosylglucoside (5), quercetin 3,3'-dimethyl ether 7-O-rhamnosylglucoside (6), quercetin glycoside (13), quercetin glycoside (acylated) (14), kaempferol glycoside (17) and quercetin 3-O-rhamnoside (18) as flavonols, and isovitexin (7), vitexin (8), isoorientin (9), orientin (10), luteolin 6-C-pentoside (11), luteolin 8-C-pentoside (12), schaftoside (15), isoschaftoside (16), chrysoeriol 6,8-di-C-pentoside (19), apigenin 6,8-di-C-arabinoside (20) and isovitexin 2''-O-glucoside (21) as C-glycosylflavones. Quercetin 3-O-rutinoside (1) alone was isolated from H. sandwicensis endemic to Hawaii. Major flavonoids of almost Begonia species was also 1. Begonia species were divided into two chemotypes, i.e. flavonol containing type and C-glycosylflavone containing type. Of 14 section of the Begonia, almost species of many section, i.e. sect. Augustia, Coelocentrum, Doratometra, Leprosae, Loasibegonia, Monopteron and Ruizoperonia, were flavonol types. On the other hand, C-glycosyflavone type was comparatively most in sect. Platycentrum.     

Synthesis and in vivo influenza virus-inhibitory effect of ester prodrug of 4-guanidino-7-O-methyl-Neu5Ac2en

A series of ester prodrugs of 7-O-methyl derivative of Zanamivir (compound 3) was synthesized and their efficacy was evaluated in an influenza infected mice model by intranasal administration. Compound 7c (CS-8958), octanoyl ester prodrug of the C-9 alcohol of compound 3, was found to be much longer-acting than Zanamivir. Furthermore, the in vivo efficacies of compounds 12a, 12b, and 12c, the linear alkyl ester prodrug of the carboxylic acid, were comparable to that exerted by compound 7c.     

Fatty acid derivatives and dammarane triterpenes from the glandular trichome exudates of Ibicella lutea and Proboscidea louisiana

Ibicella lutea and Proboscidea louisiana, both of the Martyniaceae family, are known for rich glandular trichomes on their leaves and stems. Chemical investigations of the glandular trichome exudates on leaves of the two plants furnished three types of secondary metabolites, glycosylated fatty acids, glycerides (2-O-(3,6-diacetyloxyfattyacyl)glycerols and 2-O-(3-acetyloxyfattyacyl)glycerols) and dammarane triterpenes. The glycosylated fatty acids from I. lutea were determined to be 6(S)-(6-O-acetyl-β-d-glucopyranosyloxy)-octadecanoic acid (1A), -eicosanoic acid (1B) and -docosanoic acid (1C), as well as their respective deacetyl congeners (2A, 2B and 2C), whereas P. louisiana furnished 8(S)-(6-O-acetyl-β-d-glucopyranosyloxy)-eicosanoic acid (3A) and -docosanoic acid (3B) and their respective deacetyl congeners (4A and 4B), together with 2B. Both plants contained 12 identical 2-O-[(3R,6S)-3,6-diacetyloxyfattyacyl]glycerols (5A-L), in which the fatty acyl moieties contained between 17 and 21 carbon atoms. The corresponding mono-acetyloxy compounds, 2-O-[(3R)-3-acetyloxyfattyacyl]glycerols (6A–L) were detected in both plants. Among these glycerides, ten compounds (5A, 5C, 5F, 5H, 5K, 6A, 6C, 6F, 6H and 6K) had iso-fattyacyl structures and four (5E, 5J, 6E and 6J) had anteiso-fattyacyl structures. A previously unknown dammarane triterpene, betulatriterpene C 3-acetate (7), was isolated together with three known dammarane triterpenes, 24-epi-polacandrin 1,3-diacetate (8), betulatriterpene C (9) and 24-epi-polacandrin 3-acetate (10) from I. lutea, whereas 12 dammarane triterpenes, named probosciderols A–L (12–23), and the known compound betulafolienetriol (11) were isolated from P. louisiana. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis including 2D-NMR techniques and chemical transformations. The 6-O-acetylglucosyloxy-fatty acids 1A–C (42%) and the dammarane triterpenes 7–10 (31%) were the two most abundant constituents in the glandular trichome exudate of I. lutea, whereas the dammarane triterpenes 11–23 (47%) and the glucosyloxy-fatty acids (4A, 4B and 2B) (38%) were the most abundant constituents in the glandular trichome exudate of P. louisiana.     

Synthesis of prumycin and related compounds

Prumycin (1) and related compounds have been synthesized from benzyl 2-(benzyloxycarbonyl)amino-2-deoxy-5,6-O-isopropylidene-β-d-glucofuranoside (4). Benzoylation of 4, followed by deisopropylidenation, gave benzyl 3-O-benzoyl-2-(benzyloxycarbonyl)amino-2-deoxy-β-d-glucofuranoside (6), which was converted, via oxidative cleavage at C-5–C-6 and subsequent reduction, into the related benzyl β-d-xylofuranoside derivative (7). Benzylation of 3-O-benzoyl-2-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-amino-2-deoxy-d-xylopyranose (8), derived from 7 by hydrolysis, afforded the corresponding derivatives (9, 11) of β- and α-d-xylopyranoside, and compound 7 as a minor product. Treatment of benzyl 3-O-benzoyl-2-(benzyloxycarbonyl)amino-2-deoxy-4-O-mesyl-β-d-xylopyranoside 10, formed by mesylation of 9, with sodium azide in N,N-dimethylformamide gave benzyl 4-azido-3-O-benzoyl-2-(benzyloxy-carbonyl)amino-2,4-dideoxy-α-l-arabinopyranoside (13), which was debenzoylated to compound 14. Selective reduction of the azide group in 14, and condensation of the 4-amine with N-[N-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-d-alaninoyloxy]succinimide, gave the corresponding derivative (15) of 1. Reductive removal of the protecting groups of 15 afforded 1. Prumycin analogs were also synthesized from compound 14. Evidence in support of the structures assigned to the new derivatives is presented.     

The stepwise synthesis of an aldopentaouronic acid derivative related to branched (4-O-methylglucurono)xylans

Benzylation of methyl 2,3-anhydro-4-O-[2-O-benzyl-3,4-di-O-(β-D-xylop yranosyl]-β-D-xylopyranosyl]-β-D-ribopyranoside (1) afforded the crystalline. fully benzylated tetrasaccharide derivative 2. The octa-O-benzyl derivative 3, having only HO-2 unsubstituted, obtained by treatment of 2 with benzyl alcoholate anion in benzyl alcohol, was allowed to react in dichloromethane with methyl 2,3-di-O-benzyl- 1-chloro-1-deoxy-4-O-methy]-α,β-glucopyranuronate in the presence of silver perchlorate and triethylamine to give the branched, 4-O-methyl-α-D-glucuronic acid-containing pentasaccharide derivative 4a as the major product. Subsequent debenzylation afforded the aldopentaouronic acid derivative 5a, which contains all the basic structural features of branched, hardwood (4-O-methylglucurono)xylans. The structure of 5a was confirmed by analysis of its ¹³C-n.m.r. spectrum and the mass-spectral fragmentation pattern of the corresponding fully methylated derivative 6a.     

Inhibitory activity of four demethoxy fluorinated anthracycline analogs against five human-tumor cell lines

Four anthracycline analogs synthesized in our laboratory were evaluated in comparison with adriamycin (doxorubicin) for their growth-inhibitory effect against five human-tumor cell lines, including lung carcinoma, colon adenocarcinoma, breast adenocarcinoma, melanoma, and glioblastoma. The compounds included 4-demethoxy-7-O-(2,6-dideoxy-2-fluoro--l-talopyranosyl)daunomycinone (2), its 3′,4′-diacetate (1), its 14-bromo derivative 3, and its 14-hydroxy analog, namely 4-demethoxy-7-O-(2,6-dideoxy-2-fluoro-α-l-talopyranosyl)adriamycinone (4). Compounds 1, 2, and 3 showed moderate cytotoxic effect in most of the cell lines, while compound 4 had a strong effect, comparable to or better than that of adriamycin in most of the cell lines.