Synthesis and evaluation of a radioiodinated trisaccharide derivative as a synthetic substrate for a sensitive N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase V radioassay.

N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase V (GnT-V) is one of the most relevant glycosyltransferases to tumor invasion and metastasis. Based on previous findings of molecular recognition between GnT-V and synthetic substrates, we designed and synthesized a p-iodophenyl-derivatized trisaccharide, 2-(4-iodophenyl)ethyl 6-O-[2-O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-ß-D-glucopyranosyl)-α-d-mannopyranosyl]-ß-D-glucopyranoside (IPGMG, 1) and its radiolabeled form, [(125)I]IPGMG ([(125)I]1), for use in assays of GnT-V activity in vitro. The tributyltin derivative, 2-[4-(n-tributylstannyl)phenyl]ethyl 6-O-[2-O-(3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-ß-D-glucopyranosyl)-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-α-D-mannopyranosyl]-2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-ß-D-glucopyranoside (21), was synthesized as a precursor for the preparation of [(125)I]1. The iododestannylation of 21 using hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant followed by deacetylation yielded [(125)I]1. When [(125)I]1 was incubated in GnT-V-expressing cells with a UDP-GlcNAc donor, the production of ß1-6GlcNAc-bearing IPGMG (IPGGMG, 2) was confirmed by radio-HPLC. In kinetic analysis, 1 was found to be a good substrate with a K(m) of 23.7 µM and a V(max) of 159 pmol/h. µg protein. [(125)I]1 would therefore be a useful synthetic substrate for the quantitative determination of GnT-V activity.

Asymmetric Michael addition of a recyclable chiral amine: inversion of stereoselectivity caused by the difference of ethereal solvents.

The Michael addition of a chiral amine [(-)- 6] to alpha,beta-unsaturated esters ( 4) was attained and the stereoselectivity was inverted by changing the solvent from diethyl ether to tetrahydrofuran when alpha,beta-unsaturated esters having an aromatic ring at the beta-position were employed. In addition, the chiral auxiliary in the Michael adducts ( 9A) was facilely removed with N-iodosuccinimide to afford beta-amino esters ( 10A) and 2-methoxy- d-bornylaldehyde ( 11), which can be reclaimed to the chiral amine ( 6) by reductive amination.

Efficient total synthesis of (+)-negamycin, a potential chemotherapeutic agent for genetic diseases.

Herein, we describe an efficient strategy for the total synthesis of (+)-negamycin using commercially available achiral N-Boc-2-aminoacetaldehyde as starting material with 42% overall yield for a limited number of steps.

Oral administration of (11E)-13-oxo-15,16-dinorlabda-8(20),11-dien-19-oic acid strongly reduces photocarcinogenesis in mouse skin exposed to UV-B irradiation.

(11E)-13-Oxo-15,16-dinorlabda-8(20),11-dien-19-oic Acid (1), obtained either from the stem bark of Thuja standishii or readily prepared in larger quantities from the related constituent 2, was found to significantly reduce the formation of papilloma in an in vivo two-stage mouse-skin-carcinogenesis model. Carcinogenesis was initiated by skin exposure to UV-B irradiation and promoted by topical application of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Oral administration of 1, starting one week before and ending one week after irradiation, exhibited remarkable effects. First, papilloma formation started two weeks later than in the control group (lacking 1). Second, the average number of skin papilloma after 20 weeks was reduced by ca. 50% in the test group relative to the control.

Alkyl-fluorinated thymidine derivatives for imaging cell proliferation I. The in vitro evaluation of some alkyl-fluorinated thymidine derivatives.

Derivatives of 2'-deoxyuridine that contain fluoroalkyl groups at the C5 position and derivatives of thymidine that contain fluoroalkyl groups at the N3 position were synthesized and examined in three in vitro assays designed to evaluate their potential as radiopharmaceuticals for imaging cellular proliferation. Three of the former nucleosides and five of the latter were synthesized. The three assays were as follows: (a) phosphoryl transfer assay, which showed that all three of the former nucleosides and four of the latter ones were phosphorylated by recombinant human thymidine kinase 1 (TK1) and that N(3)-(2-fluoroethyl)-thymidine (NFT202) was the most potent substrate of the eight nucleosides studied; (b) transport assay, which indicated that all eight nucleosides had good affinity for an 6-[(4-nitrobenzyl)thio]-9-beta-d-ribofuranosylpurine-sensitive mouse erythrocyte nucleoside transporter, with inhibition constants in the range of 0.02-0.55 mM; and (c) degradation assay, which showed that all but one of the former nucleosides and none of the latter were degraded by recombinant Escherichia coli thymidine phosphorylase (an enzyme that catalyzes the glycosidic bond of thymidine and 2'-deoxyuridine derivatives). From these in vitro screening assays, we selected NFT202 as a candidate for subsequent in vivo evaluation because this compound met the three minimum requirements of the in vitro screening assays and had the most potent phosphorylation activity as a substrate for recombinant human TK1.

Modification of pyrimidine derivatives from antiviral agents to antitumor agents.

2,4-Diaminopyrimidine derivatives, that were originally developed as antiviral agents, were modified to antitumor agents by: (i) introducing an amino group at C-5 on the pyrimidine ring, (ii) changing the alkyl group and the ring size of the cycloalkyl group on the beta-position of the omega-hydroxyalkylamino group, (iii) replacing the phenylalkyl group on the cycloalkyl group with the 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenylalkyl group, (iv) the esterification of the primary alcohol with diethyl phosphate and (v) introducing the thiomethyl group at C-2 on the pyrimidine ring. Among the 21 compounds prepared, 6, which has cyclobutyl at the beta-position, exhibited potent activity towards P-388 leukemia. In addition, 14, with methoxyl groups on the phenyl ring and 17, with the thiomethyl group on the pyrimidine ring, showed specific inhibition for the EGFR protein kinase. Moreover, 15 and 16, which carry the diethyl phosphoryl group on the primary alcohol, exhibited inhibitory activity towards P-glycoprotein.

Synthesis of DL-standishinal and its related compounds for the studies on structure-activity relationship of inhibitory activity against aromatase.

DL-Standishinal (1), an aromatase inhibitor isolated from Thuja standishii, was synthesized in 15 steps from p-formylanisole via aldol reaction of 12-hydroxy-6,7-secoabieta-8,11,13-trien-6,7-dial (2). In the present study, we found that the aldol condensation of 2 proceeded in excellent yield with the protonic catalyst such as d-camphorsulfonic acid in CH(2)Cl(2). Moreover, structure-activity relationship of 1 and its related compounds was studied and it was revealed that the isomers having cis-configuration on the A/B-ring generally exhibited more potent inhibitory activities against aromatase than those with trans-configuration.

Asymmetric synthesis of methyl (-)-13-oxo-15,16-dinorlabda-8(17),11E-dien-19-oate, methyl ester of a potent suppressor toward carcinogenic promotor.

Asymmetric synthesis of methyl ester (4) of (-)-13-oxo-15,16-dinorlabda-8(17),11E-dien-19-oic acid (1), which exhibited the most potent activity for the prevention of incipient carcinogenesis among the isolated diterpenes from Thuja standishii and its related plants, was achieved by using methyl (-)-1,4a-dimethyl-5-oxodecahydronaphthalene-1-carboxylate (5) as a strating material, which was easily prepared on gram scale by baker's yeast-catalyzed asymmetric reduction.

Odorless benzenethiols in synthesis of thioglycosides and its application for glycosylation reactions.

p-Octyloxybenzenethiol (2) was synthesized as a new odorless benzenethiol. Moreover, preparation of thioglycosides using 2 and their application for glycosylation reactions were attempted. As a result, it was found that the thioglycosides were as excellent glycosyl donors as 4-dodecylphenyl 1-thio-glycosides, which were previously reported by our group, and more useful than the previous donors in terms of fine chemistry in glycosylation reaction activated with silver triflate and N-iodosuccinimide (NIS). In addition, this method was applicable to the sialylation with NIS and triflic acid. All procedures from the preparation of thioglycosides to the glycosylation reaction could be attained completely under conditions where no malodor was generated.

Synthesis of (-)-epibatidine and its derivatives from chiral allene-1,3-dicarboxylate esters.

(-)-Epibatidine, an excellent candidate of non-opioidal anesthesia, was formally synthesized in short steps from di-(l)-menthyl (R)-allene-1,3-dicarboxylate that was facilely prepared as a single isomer by means of crystallization-induced asymmetric transformation from a diastereomer mixture of (R)- and (S)-allene-1,3-dicarboxylates. Taking advantage of the chiral synthesis, derivatives of (-)-epibatidine were also prepared for targeting diagnostic agents that could bind nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the mammalian central nerve system.

Biomimetic synthesis of (+/-)-galanthamine and asymmetric synthesis of (-)-galanthamine using remote asymmetric induction.

(+/-)-Galanthamine (1) was synthesized in excellent yield by applying PIFA-mediated oxidative phenol coupling of N-(4-hydroxy)phenethyl-N-(3',4',5'-trialkoxy)benzyl formamide (15b) as a key step. Because of the symmetrical characteristics of the pyrogallol moiety in the substrate (15b), the phenol coupling resulted in a sole coupling product except for volatile components from the oxidizing agent. On the basis of the successful results of the above strategy, (-)-galanthamine (1) was synthesized by employing a novel remote asymmetric induction, where conformation of the seven-membered ring in the product of the phenol coupling was restricted by forming a fused-chiral imidazolidinone ring with D-phenylalanine on the benzylic C-N bond of the tri-O-alkylated gallyl amino moiety. The conformational restriction and successive debenzylation of the protected hydroxyl groups on the pyrogallol ring caused diastereoselective cyclization to yield a cyclic ether having the desired stereochemistry for the synthesis of (-)-1.

A new synthesis of a potent cancer chemopreventive agent, 13-oxo-15,16-dinorlabda-8(17),11E-dien-19-oic acid from trans-communic acid.

The first synthesis of a labdane diterpenoid, (-)-13-oxo-15,16-dinorlabda-8(17),11E-dien-19-oic acid [(-)-1a], isolated from the stem bark of Thuja standishii (GORD.) CARR., from the major component trans-communic acid (3a) is described.