GlcNAc-1,6-anhydro-MurNAc Moiety Affords Unusual Glycosyl Acceptor that Terminates Peptidoglycan Elongation.

Peptidoglycan (PG), an essential exoskeletal polymer in bacteria, is a well-known antibiotic target. PG polymerization requires the action of bacterial transglycosylases (TGases), which couple the incoming glycosyl acceptor to the donor. Interfering with the TGase activity can interrupt the PG assembly. Existing TGase inhibitors like moenomycin and Lipid II analogues always occupy the TGase active sites; other strategies to interfere with proper PG elongation have not been widely exploited. Inspired by the natural 1,6-anhydro-MurNAc termini that mark the ends of PG strands in bacteria, we hypothesized that the incorporation of an anhydromuramyl-containing glycosyl acceptor by TGase into the growing PG may effectively inhibit PG elongation. To explore this possibility, we synthesized 4-O-(N-acetyl-ß-d-glucosaminyl)-1,6-anhydro-N-acetyl-ß-d-muramyl-l-Ala-γ-d-Glu-l-Lys-d-Ala-d-Ala, 1, within 15 steps, and demonstrated that this anhydromuropeptide and its analogue lacking the peptide, 1-deAA, were both utilized by bacterial TGase as noncanonical anhydro glycosyl acceptors in vitro. The incorporation of an anhydromuramyl moiety into PG strands by TGases afforded efficient termination of glycan chain extension. Moreover, the preliminary in vitro studies of 1-deAA against Staphylococcus aureus showed that 1-deAA served as a reasonable antimicrobial adjunct of vancomycin. These insights imply the potential application of such anhydromuropeptides as novel classes of PG-terminating inhibitors, pointing toward novel strategies in antibacterial agent development.

Ligand Sulfur Oxidation State Progressively Alters Galectin-3-Ligand Complex Conformations To Induce Affinity-Influencing Hydrogen Bonds.

Galectins play biological roles in immune regulation and tumor progression. Ligands with high affinity for the shallow, hydrophilic galectin-3 ligand binding site rely primarily on a galactose core with appended aryltriazole moieties, making hydrophobic interactions and π-stacking. We designed and synthesized phenyl sulfone, sulfoxide, and sulfide-triazolyl thiogalactoside derivatives to create affinity-enhancing hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic and π-interactions. Crystal structures and thermodynamic analyses revealed that the sulfoxide and sulfone ligands form hydrogen bonds while retaining π-interactions, resulting in improved affinities and unique binding poses. The sulfoxide, bearing one hydrogen bond acceptor, leads to an affinity decrease compared to the sulfide, whereas the corresponding sulfone forms three hydrogen bonds, two directly with Asn and Arg side chains and one water-mediated to an Asp side chain, respectively, which alters the complex structure and increases affinity. These findings highlight that the sulfur oxidation state influences both the interaction thermodynamics and structure.

Easy access to secondary and tertiary alcohols via metal-free and light mediated radical carbonyl allylation.

Here we report a strategy for carbonyl addition with unactivated alkenes using an organic photocatalyst on both aldehyde and ketone substrates. This protocol grants us a good alternative to the traditional Barbier-Grignard allylation that exhibits poor functional group tolerance. With this method the stoichiometric use of metals can be avoided, high atom economy can be achieved and fewer by-products are generated.

Palladium(ii)-catalyzed stereoselective synthesis of C-glycosides from glycals with diaryliodonium salts.

An efficient palladium(ii) mediated C-glycosylation of glycals with diaryliodonium salts is described, providing a new strategy for the synthesis of 2,3-dideoxy C-aryl glycosides with excellent stereoselectivity. The C-glycosylation of a diverse range of glycals, including d-glucal, d-galactal, d-allal, l-rhamnal, l-fucal, l-arabinal, d-maltal, and d-lactal, occurred effectively and the corresponding C-glycosides were obtained in moderate to good yields. This protocol is commended as a significant addition to the field of carbohydrate chemistry due to the rich functional group compatibility, broad range of substrate scope and exceptional α-stereoselectivity.

Epimers Switch Galectin-9 Domain Selectivity: 3N-Aryl Galactosides Bind the C-Terminal and Gulosides Bind the N-Terminal.

A series of 3-deoxy-3-N-arylated-ß-d-galactoside and -guloside derivatives have been synthesized by cesium fluoride/trimetylsilylaryl triflate-mediated benzyne generation and N-arylation of 3-deoxy-3-amino-ß-d-galactosides and -gulosides, respectively. Evaluation as ligands to galectin-1, 2, 3, 4N (N-terminal domain), 4C (C-terminal domain), 7, 8N, 8C, 9C, and 9N revealed that the galactosides selectively bound galectin-9C, whereas the gulosides selectively bound galectin-9N. Hence, the N-aryl group induces galectin-9 selectivity and the ligand 3C-configuration acts as an epimeric selectivity switch between the two domains of galectin-9. Furthermore, MD simulations revealed that galacto derivatives in galectin-9C and gulo derivatives in galectin-9N find stable poses with specific interactions, which proposes a possible explanation to the gal/gulo 9C/9N selectivity.

Iridium-promoted deoxyglycoside synthesis: stereoselectivity and mechanistic insight.

Herein, we devised a method for stereoselective O-glycosylation using an Ir(i)-catalyst which enables both hydroalkoxylation and nucleophilic substitution of glycals with varying substituents at the C3 position. In this transformation, 2-deoxy-α-O-glycosides were acquired when glycals equipped with a notoriously poor leaving group at C3 were used; in contrast 2,3-unsaturated-α-O-glycosides were produced from glycals that bear a good leaving group at C3. Mechanistic studies indicate that both reactions proceed via the directing mechanism, through which the acceptor coordinates to the Ir(i) metal in the α-face-coordinated Ir(i)-glycal π-complex and then attacks the glycal that contains the O-glycosidic bond in a syn-addition manner. This protocol exhibits good functional group tolerance and is exemplified with the preparation of a library of oligosaccharides in moderate to high yields and with excellent stereoselectivities.

A Galactoside-Binding Protein Tricked into Binding Unnatural Pyranose Derivatives: 3-Deoxy-3-Methyl-Gulosides Selectively Inhibit Galectin-1.

Galectins are a family of galactoside-recognizing proteins involved in different galectin-subtype-specific inflammatory and tumor-promoting processes, which motivates the development of inhibitors that are more selective galectin inhibitors than natural ligand fragments. Here, we describe the synthesis and evaluation of 3-C-methyl-gulopyranoside derivatives and their evaluation as galectin inhibitors. Methyl 3-deoxy-3-C-(hydroxymethyl)-ß-d-gulopyranoside showed 7-fold better affinity for galectin-1 than the natural monosaccharide fragment analog methyl ß-d-galactopyranoside, as well as a high selectivity over galectin-2, 3, 4, 7, 8, and 9. Derivatization of the 3-C-hydroxymethyl into amides gave gulosides with improved selectivities and affinities; methyl 3-deoxy-3-C-(methyl-2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzamide)-ß-d-gulopyranoside had Kd 700 µM for galectin-1, while not binding any other galectin.

Stereo- and regioselective glycosylation with protection-less sugar derivatives: an alluring strategy to access glycans and natural products.

In the pursuit of developing potent drug molecules, more efficient and straightforward procedures are in high demand. The evergrowing interest in carbohydrate-based therapeutics and vaccines particularly calls for such reliable and universal approaches that assemble oligosaccharides rapidly and stereoselectively. Hereby, we compiled remarkable efforts made in exploring the possibilities of protection-less glycosylation strategies. Pioneering works using organotin reagents or catalysts were introduced first, followed by the organoboron successors that were deemed less toxic and more versatile alternatives. In the meantime, more species such as copper or caesium were also included and supported by a mechanistic rationale. Lastly, we hope to bring further insights into the synthesis of intricate carbohydrate derivatives, achieved with the aid of glycosylation methods discussed herein.

Quinoline-galactose hybrids bind selectively with high affinity to a galectin-8 N-terminal domain.

Quinolines, indolizines, and coumarins are well known structural elements in many biologically active molecules. In this report, we have developed straightforward methods to incorporate quinoline, indolizine, and coumarin structures into galactoside derivatives under robust reaction conditions for the discovery of glycomimetic inhibitors of the galectin family of proteins that are involved in immunological and tumor-promoting biological processes. Evaluation of the quinoline, indolizine and coumarin-derivatised galactosides as inhibitors of the human galectin-1, 2, 3, 4N (N-terminal domain), 4C (C-terminal domain), 7, 8N, 8C, 9N, and 9C revealed quinoline derivatives that selectively bound galectin-8N, a galectin with key roles in lymphangiogenesis, tumor progression, and autophagy, with up to nearly 60-fold affinity improvements relative to methyl ß-d-galactopyranoside. Molecular dynamics simulations proposed an interaction mode in which Arg59 had moved 2.5 Å and in which an inhibitor carboxylate and quinoline nitrogen formed structure-stabilizing water-mediated hydrogen bonds. The compounds were demonstrated to be non-toxic in an MTT assay with several breast cancer cell lines and one normal cell line. The improved affinity, selectivity, and low cytotoxicity suggest that the quinoline-galactoside derivatives provide an attractive starting point for the development of galectin-8N inhibitors potentially interfering with pathological lymphangiogenesis, autophagy, and tumor progression.

Arynes in the Monoarylation of Unprotected Carbohydrate Amines.

A CsF-mediated method has been developed for the N-arylation of amino sugars that affords good to excellent yields of arylated products under mild conditions involving the in situ generation of arynes. The reaction conditions tolerate a variety of common carbohydrate protecting groups and also performs exceptionally well on unprotected amino sugar derivatives. The reactions are scalable in moderate to good yields with broad scope.

Synthesis of the tetrasaccharide repeating unit of the O-glycan from the polar flagellum flagellin of Azospirillum brasilense Sp7.

Chemical synthesis of the tetrasaccharide repeating unit of the O-glycan from the polar flagellum flagellin of Azospirillum brasilense Sp7 in the form of its p-methoxyphenyl glycoside is reported. The required glycosidic linkages have been accomplished by activation of thioglycosides with N-iodosuccinimide in the presence of H2SO4-silica. H2SO4-silica was found to be an effective alternative to the classical acid promoters like TfOH or TMSOTf and it can lead to the formation of both 1,2-cis and 1,2-trans glycosidic linkages depending on the protecting group manipulation and control of the reaction condition.

Concise synthesis of the trisaccharide repeating unit of the O-polysaccharide from Aeromonas hydrophila A19 (O:14).

Chemical synthesis of the trisaccharide repeating unit of the O-polysaccharide from Aeromonas hydrophila A19 (O:14) is reported in the form of its p-methoxyphenyl glycosides. Suitably protected monosaccharide synthons were prepared either by literature procedure or by strategies developed in house. Stereoselective glycosylations were accomplished by the activation of thioglycosides using N-iodosuccinimide in conjunction with H2SO4-silica in good to excellent yields.