New lipophilic glycomimetic DC-SIGN ligands: Stereoselective synthesis and SPR-based binding inhibition assays.

The design and synthesis of efficient ligands for DC-SIGN is a topic of high interest, because this C-type lectin has been implicated in the early stages of many infection processes. DC-SIGN membrane-protein presents four carbohydrate-binding domains (CRD) that specifically recognize mannose and fucose. Therefore, antagonists of minimal disaccharide epitope Manα(1,2)Man, represent potentially interesting antibacterial and antiviral agents. In the recent past, we were able to develop efficient antagonists, mimics of the natural moiety, characterized by the presence of a real d-carbamannose unit which confers greater stability to enzymatic breakdown than the corresponding natural disaccharide ligand. Herein, we present the challenging stereoselective synthesis of four new amino or azide glycomimetic DC-SIGN antagonists with attractive orthogonal lipophilic substituents in C(3), C(4) or C(6) positions of the real carba unit, which were expected to establish crucial interactions with lipophilic areas of DC-SIGN CRD. The activity of the new ligands was evaluated by SPR binding inhibition assays. The interesting results obtained, allow to acquire important information about the influence of the lipophilic substituents present in specific positions of the carba scaffold. Furthermore, C(6) benzyl C(4) tosylamide pseudodisaccharide displayed a good affinity for DC-SIGN with a more favorable IC50 value than those of the previously described real carba-analogues. This study provides valuable knowledge for the implementation of further structural modifications towards improved inhibitors.

Enantiopure cis-2,5-disubstituted 2,5-dihydropyrroles from D-glycal-derived vinyl aziridines.

Upon treatment with the K- and Li-enolates of a methylene active compound, such as dimethyl malonate and dibenzoylmethane, D-allal- and D-galactal-derived vinyl N-mesyl aziridines are stereoselectively transformed, in a unique step, into diastereoisomeric, highly functionalized, enantiopure cis-2,5-disubstituted N-mesyl-2,5-dihydropyrroles.

Stereodivergent synthesis of diastereoisomeric carba analogs of glycal-derived vinyl epoxides: a new access to carbasugars.

A convenient method for the stereoselective synthesis of diasteroisomeric vinyl epoxides (-)-2α and (-)-2ß, the carba analogs of D-galactal and D-allal-derived vinyl epoxides 1α and 1ß, has been elaborated starting from tri-O-acetyl-D-glucal. The key step of this synthesis is an application of the known Claisen thermal rearrangement of a glucal derivative, the vinyl allyl ether (+)-3b, which allows to switch the glycal structure into the corresponding carba analog scaffold. Epoxides (-)-2α and (-)-2ß derive from the same synthetic intermediate, the trans diol (+)-5.

Copper-catalyzed divergent kinetic resolution of racemic allylic substrates.

When a racemic mixture is fully consumed the products may still be enantiomerically enriched. In particular, the regiodivergent kinetic resolution is a process in which a single chiral catalyst or reagent reacts with a racemic substrate to form regioisomers possessing an opposite configuration on the newly-formed stereogenic centers. This review reports the major advances in the field of the copper-catalyzed regiodivergent and stereodivergent kinetic resolution of allylic substrates with organometallic reagents. The chiral recognition matching phenomena found with particular allylic substrates with the absolute configuration of the chiral catalyst allows in some cases an excellent control of the regio- and stereoselectivity, sheding some light on the so-called "black-box" mechanism of a copper-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation.

Chemical reactivity predictions: use of data mining techniques for analyzing regioselective azidolysis of epoxides.

Azidolysis of epoxides followed by reduction of the intermediate azido alcohols constitutes a valuable synthetic tool for the construction of beta-amino alcohols, an important chemical functionality occurring in many biologically active compounds of natural origin. However, depending on conditions under which the azidolysis is carried out, two regioisomeric products can be formed, as a consequence of the nucleophilic attack on both the oxirane carbon atoms. In this work, predictive models for quantitative structure-reactivity relationships were developed by means of multiple linear regression, k-nearest neighbor, locally weighted regression, and Gaussian Process regression algorithms. The specific nature of the problem at hand required the creation of appropriate new descriptors, able to properly reflect the most relevant features of molecular moieties directly involved in the opening process. The models so obtained are able to predict the regioselectivity of the azidolysis of epoxides promoted by sodium azide, in the presence of lithium perchlorate, on the basis of steric hindrance, and charge distribution of the substituents directly attached to the oxirane ring.

Stereoselective synthesis of beta-phenylselenoglycosides from glycals and rationalization of the selenoglycosylation processes.

Beta-phenylselenoglycosides have been efficiently and stereoselectively synthesized by direct oxidative glycosylation of benzenselenolate (PhSe(-)) with glycals. A rationalization of the presently described beta-selectivity and the opposite alpha-selectivity reported by Danishefsky in the ring-opening of epoxy glycals with benzeneselenol (PhSeH) is proposed.

Stereoselective synthesis of 4-amino-2,3-unsaturated-N-Cbz-imino-O-glycosides via new diastereoisomeric N-Cbz-imino glycal-derived allyl N-nosyl aziridines.

The glycosylation of alcohols by the new diastereoisomeric d,l-6-deoxy-N-Cbz-imino glycal-derived allyl N-nosyl aziridines 5 and 6 affords, after deprotection of the 4-(N-nosylamino) group, the corresponding 2,3-unsaturated-N-Cbz-imino-O-glycosides bearing a free amino group on C(4) through a completely 1,4-regio- and substrate-dependent stereoselective glycosylation process.

Stereoselective synthesis of 2,3-unsaturated 1,6-oligosaccharides by means of a glycal-derived allyl epoxide and N-nosyl aziridine.

beta-D-threo- and 4-deoxy-4-amino-alpha-D-erythro-hex-2-enopyranosyl di- (n = 0) and trisaccharides (n = 1) of types A and B were synthetized by means of a reiterative, completely stereoselective glycosylation process which makes use of the D-galactal-derived allyl epoxide 1beta and D-allal-derived allyl N-nosyl aziridine 2alpha, respectively.

Synthesis and cyclodehydration of hydroxyphenols: a new stereoselective approach to 3-aryl-2,3-dihydrobenzofurans.

A novel and simple method for the stereoselective synthesis of substituted 3-aryl-2,3-dihydrobenzofurans by intramolecular cyclization of hydroxyphenols is described. The stereoselective ortho-C-alkylation of phenols allows a novel and stereoselective access to a diverse array of polyfunctionalized products containing a diarylmethane stereogenic center without the need for time-consuming protection-deprotection steps.

Stereoselective synthesis of 2,3-unsaturated-aza-O-glycosides via new diastereoisomeric N-Cbz-imino glycal-derived allyl epoxides.

Diastereoisomeric D,L-N-Cbz-imino glycal-derived allyl epoxides 5 and 6 have been synthesized, and their addition reactions with alcohols examined. The reactions lead to the corresponding 2,3-unsaturated-aza-O-glycosides through a new, completely regioselective 1,4-addition process which proceeds with complete substrate-dependent stereoselectivity.

Facile regio- and stereoselective carbon-carbon coupling of phenol derivatives with aryl aziridines.

A chemo-, regio-, and stereoselective direct carbon-carbon coupling of readily available aryl borates with N-protected aryl aziridines provides a method for the synthesis of new 2-(o-hydroxyaryl)-2-aryl ethylamines which can be used, in a novel annulation sequence, to give stereodefined substituted 3-aryl indolines. [reaction: see text]

Stereoselective uncatalyzed synthesis of 2,3-unsaturated-4-n-substituted-beta-O-glycosides by means of a new D-galactal-derived N-(mesyl)-aziridine.

The reaction of the new D-galactal-derived allylic aziridine 1beta with O-nucleophiles (alcohols and monosaccharides) affords, in a high to complete beta-stereoselectivity, the corresponding 2,3-unsaturated-beta-O-glycosides bearing a beta-N-functionality at C4.

Catalytic asymmetric ring opening of 2,3-substituted norbornenes with organometallic reagents: a new formal aza functionalization of cyclopentadiene.

An unprecedented regioselective and anti stereoselective asymmetric ring opening of 1,3-cyclopentadiene-heterodienophile cycloadducts, including also 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.1]heptenes, with hard alkylmetals and copper-phosphoramidite catalysts, is reported. The induced ring opening, in conjunction with C-C bond formation, gives a catalytic and practical access to new heterofunctionalized cyclopentenes in an enantioenriched form (up to 86% ee). [reaction: see text]

Stereoselective synthesis of 4-(N-mesylamino)-2,3-unsaturated- alpha-O-glycosides via a new glycal-derived vinyl alpha-N-(mesyl)-aziridine.

[reaction: see text] N-Mesyl aziridine 7alpha, a new activated vinyl aziridine derived from d-glucal, has been synthesized by cyclization of trans-N,O-dimesylate 6 with t-BuOK in anhydrous benzene. The reaction of 7alpha with alcohols, phenol, and monosaccharides (O-nucleophiles) leads to the corresponding 4-N-(mesylamino)-2,3-unsaturated-O-glycosides and disaccharides through a completely regioselective 1,4-addition process that proceeds with high or complete alpha-stereoselectivity.

Mild metal-free syn-stereoselective ring opening of activated epoxides and aziridines with aryl borates.

A conceptually new, simple and practical method for the syn-nucleophilic displacement of aryl and vinyl epoxides and aryl aziridines with (substituted) phenols, using aryl borates as activating nucleophiles under neutral conditions, is reported.

Regio- and stereoselectivity of the addition of O-, S-, N-, and C-nucleophiles to the beta vinyl oxirane derived from D-glucal.

6-O-Trityl- (1a) and 6-(O-benzyl)-substituted epoxide (1b) derived from D-glucal were examined in their addition reactions with O-, C-, N-, and S-nucleophiles. A 1,4-regio- and beta-stereoselective or an anti 1,2-addition pathway is commonly observed depending on the ability of the nucleophile to coordinate with the oxirane oxygen. When TMSN(3) or LiN(3) are used as azide-based nucleophiles, a 1,2-syn-addition pathway is also observed.

Stereospecific uncatalyzed alpha-O-glycosylation and alpha-C-glycosidation by means of a new D-Gulal-derived alpha vinyl oxirane.

The reaction of alpha vinyl oxirane 5, prepared through a new route to the d-gulal system, with O-nucleophiles (alcohols and di-O-isopropylidene-alpha-d-monosaccharides) and C-nucleophiles (lithium alkyls) affords, in a completely stereoselective way, the corresponding 2-unsaturated alpha O- and C-glycosides having the same configuration as the starting epoxide.

Catalytic regiodivergent kinetic resolution of allylic epoxides: a new entry to allylic and homoallylic alcohols with high optical purity.

A novel regiodivergent kinetic resolution of a series of allylic epoxides with alkylzinc reagents is described. Results demonstrate the potential of chiral copper-phosphoramidite catalysts for enantiomer differentiation of allylic epoxides, allowing a chiral catalyst-stereoregulated synthesis of cyclic allylic and homoallylic alcohols with high optical purities.

A DFT investigation of the addition reaction of monomeric lithium enolate derived from propiophenone to propene oxide: examination of the possible transition structures.

The addition reaction of monomeric lithium enolate (Z)-1, derived from propiophenone, to propene oxide 2, was examined to clarify the exact geometry of the transition state (TS) involved in this type of reaction. The eight possible TSs and the corresponding pathways, four leading to syn gamma-hydroxy ketone (gamma-HK) 3 and four leading to anti gamma-HK 4, were compared, using the B3LYP/6-31+G(d)//B3LYP/6-31+G(d) theory level in vacuo and in the presence of the reaction solvent (toluene/hexane). In every case, the favored pathway involves a TS where the enolate C=C and the epoxide C-C are in a gauche relationship and where the Li(+) is stabilized by some C-C and C-H sigma bonds of epoxide 2.

New stereoselective beta-C-glycosidation by uncatalyzed 1,4-addition of organolithium reagents to a glycal-derived vinyl oxirane.

[reaction: see text] Epoxide 4 is generated in situ from d-glucal-derived hydroxy mesylate 3. Reaction of epoxide 4 with a series of alkyl- and aryllithium reagents affords 2,3-unsaturated beta-C-glycosides with excellent 1,4-regioselectivity and complete stereoselectivity for the beta-glycoside. Other organometallic reagents demonstrate more complex behavior in their reactions with epoxide 4.