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-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-α-d-mannopyranosyl]-β-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-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-α-D-mannopyranosyl]-2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-β-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 β1-6GlcNAc-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.

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.

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.

Demethylation of N-methyl group in N-methyl-N-arylmethyl-α-amino esters was accomplished by the oxidation of the amino group using the N-iodosuccinimide (NIS)/acetonitrile system followed by treatment with O-methylhydroxylamine hydrochloride. This combination of reagents could provide a complementary method to catalytic hydrogenolysis, which certainly cleaves N-arylmethyl groups, in organic synthesis.

AbstractChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 200 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.

p‐Dodecylbenzenethiol (1) and p‐octyloxybenzenethiol (2) were synthesized as new odorless benzenethiols. Moreover, preparation of novel 1‐thioglycosides using 1 and 2 as well as their application for glycosylation reactions was performed. As a result, it was found that these 1‐thio‐glycosides were excellent glycosyl donors, and especially 2‐thio‐sialoside prepared from 1 and 2 afforded the best result to date in terms of α‐ and β‐selectivity in the sialylation where only the single C‐3 hydroxyl group of acceptor D‐galactopyranoside was free. All procedures from the preparation of thioglycosides to glycosylation reaction were attainable under completely odorless conditions.

AbstractChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 200 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract, please click on HTML or PDF.

(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.

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 CH2Cl2. 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.

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.

(-)-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.

AbstractChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 200 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract, please click on HTML or PDF.