Aldol reactions on 1-deoxy-3,4:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-L-fructose as a route to higher-carbon carbohydrates.

With a view to preparing higher-carbon carbohydrates, crossed-aldol reactions of the methyl ketone 1-deoxy-3,4:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-L-fructose with a representative series of aldehydes have been investigated, and the feasibility has been demonstrated of constructing a C-11 unit containing some of the key functionality found in the carbohydrate component of the herbicidins.

Synthesis of diacylglycerol analogues as potential second-messenger antagonists and inhibitors of protein kinase C.

A series of analogues of diacylglycerol has been prepared and tested as inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC). The diketone analogues, 10-hydroxymethyl-8,13-eicosanedione (24), 10-acetoxymethyl-8,13-eicosanedione (25), and 10-methoxymethyl-8,13-eicosanedione (26) each inhibited PKC activated by 2-O-acetyl-1-O-oleoylglycerol. Compound 24 was the most effective inhibitor of the growth of MR4 and HT29 cells in culture, and 26 was more effective than 24 against HL60 cells.

Histidines, histamines and imidazoles as glycosidase inhibitors.

This present study reports the ability of a range of derivatives of L-histidine, histamine and imidazole to act as inhibitors of sweet-almond beta-glucosidase, yeast alpha-glucosidase and Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase. The addition of a hydrophobic group to the basic imidazole nucleus greatly enhances binding to both the alpha- and beta-glucosidases. L-Histidine (beta-naphthylamide (Ki 17 microM) is a potent competitive inhibitor of sweet-almond beta-glucosidase as is omega-N-acetylhistamine (K1 35 microM), which inhibits the sweet-almond beta-glucosidase at least 700 times more strongly than either yeast alpha-glucosidase or Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase, and suggests potential for the development of selective reversible beta-glucosidase inhibitors. A range of hydrophobic omega-N-acylhistamines were synthesized and shown to be among the most potent inhibitors of sweet-almond beta-glucosidase reported to date.

Sucrose octabenzoate: assignment of 13C and 1H resonances of the sucrose moiety and the 13C resonances of the carbonyl carbons. Use of 13C-n.m.r. spectroscopy for the study of selective deacylation.

Assignment of the 1H and 13C signals arising from the carbohydrate portion of sucrose octabenzoate has been achieved using homonuclear shift correlation experiments (COSY) and one-bond 1H-13C heteronuclear shift correlation measurements, respectively. The 13C resonances of the carbonyl carbon atoms of the eight benzoyl groups are readily distinguished for solutions in benzene-d6-pyridine-d5 (1:1), and have been assigned by means of three-bond 1H-13C shift correlation studies coupled with measurement of the 13C-n.m.r. spectrum of a sucrose octabenzoate specifically labelled with 13C in some of the carbonyl groups. With this assignment, products of partial deacylation of the octabenzoate may readily be identified by treatment with excess of benzoyl-carbonyl-13C chloride followed by measurement of the 13C-n.m.r. spectrum of the labelled sucrose octabenzoate, so prepared, in the carbonyl region.

Analogues of cisplatin derived from diaminodideoxytetritols. Synthesis and activity against the ADJ/PC6 plasmacytoma in mice.

Four new analogues of the anticancer drug cisplatin have been prepared that contain a diaminodideoxytetritol derivative as the amine ligand moiety, and their activities have been measured against the ADJ/PC6 plasmacytoma in mice. Two of these compounds, the enantiomers of cis-dichloro(1,4-diamino-1,4-dideoxy-2,3-O-isopropylidenethreitol) -platinum(II) , show a higher TI value than cisplatin when administered by intraperitoneal injection and, importantly, show significant antitumour activity when administered orally.