Expanding the recognition of the minor groove of DNA by incorporation of beta-alanine in hairpin polyamides.

In order to expand the recognition code by hairpin polyamides to include DNA sequences of the type 5'-CWWC-3' two polyamides, PyPyPyPy-(R)(H2N)gamma-ImPyPyIm-beta-Dp (1) and PyPyPyPy-(R)(H2N)gamma-ImPy-beta-Im-beta-Dp (2) were synthesized which have in common an Py/Im pair in the terminal position for targeting C x G but differ with respect to internal placement of a beta-alanine residue. The equilibrium association constants (Ka) were determined at four DNA sites which differ at a single common position, 5'-TNTACA-3' (N = T, A, G, C). Quantitative DNase I footprint titration experiments reveal that the eight-ring hairpin PyPyPyPy-(R)(H2N)gamma-ImPyPyIm-beta-Dp (1) binds the four binding sites with similar affinities, Ka = 1.3-1.9 x 10(10) M(-1) indicating that there is no preference for the position N. In contrast, a redesigned polyamide PyPyPyPy-(R)(H2N)gamma-ImPy-beta-Im-beta-Dp (2) that places an internal flexible aliphatic beta-alanine to the 5'-side of a key imidazole group bound the match site 5'-TCTACA-3' with high affinity and good sequence discrimination (Ka(match) = 4.9 x 10(10) M(-1) and the single base pair mismatch sites with 5- to 25-fold lower affinity). These results expand the repertoire of sequences targetable by hairpins and emphasize the importance of beta-alanine as a key element for minor groove recognition.

Iodine monochloride/silver trifluoromethanesulfonate (ICI/AgOTf) as a convenient promoter system for O-glycoside synthesis.

The novel promoter system iodine monochloride/silver trifluoromethanesulfonate (ICl/AgOTf) was evaluated with various thioglycoside donors and saccharide acceptors, and O-glycosides were obtained in 46-82% yield. Several practical advantages of the ICl/AgOTf system over known promoter systems were observed, such as convenient handling of the reagents and absence of byproducts related to N-succinimide.

Glycosylation with N-Troc-protected glycosyl donors.

N-Troc-protected (Troc = 2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonyl) glucosamine and galactosamine glycosyl donors (1-O-acetyl sugar, bromo sugar, and thioglycoside) were compared with the corresponding N-Phth-protected derivatives in glycosylations of 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethanol, 2-bromoethanol, methyl 3-mercaptopropionate, N-Fmoc-protected serine, and 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl 6-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-beta-D-glucopyranoside. The N-Troc-protected donors gave pure beta-glycosides in somewhat higher yields than the N-Phth-protected counterparts. The N-Troc protecting group can be removed by reduction with zinc, which allows selective N-deprotection in oligosaccharides containing both N-Troc and N-Phth groups.

Calculated conformations of sialyl-Le(x)- and sialyl-Le(a)-lactones.

The minimum energy conformations of the four sterically reasonable SLe(x) and SLe(a) lactones were calculated using the molecular mechanics force-field MM2(91). The tetrasaccharide lactone involving the 3- and 2-position of the Gal moiety was found to be more stable than the 3,4-lactone both for SLe(x) and SLe(a).

2-(Trimethylsilyl)ethyl glycosides. Transformation into the corresponding 1-O-acyl sugars.

(Trimethylsilyl)ethyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside and (trimethylsilyl)ethyl 2,3,6-tri-O-acetyl-4-O-(2,3,6-tri-O-acetyl-4-O-[2-acetamido-4,6-di-O-ace tyl-2- deoxy-3-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-beta-D- galactopyranosyl]-beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside have been transformed in high yield into the corresponding 1-O-beta-acyl saccharides by treatment with various carboxylic anhydrides in the presence of boron trifluoride-diethyl ether in toluene. The carboxylic anhydrides (4-pentenoic, 2-cyclopentenylacetic, 2,4-dimethoxy-benzoic, and 2-methoxybenzoic anhydride) were synthesized from the corresponding carboxylic acids by treatment with N,N-bis[2-oxo-3-oxazolidinyl]phosphorodiamidic chloride.