George A. O’Doherty

De Novo Asymmetric Synthesis of All-d-, All-l-, and d-/l-Oligosaccharides Using Atom-less Protecting Groups

Oligosaccharide synthesis is hindered by the need for multiple steps as well as numerous selective protections and deprotections. Herein we report a highly efficient de novo route to various oligosaccharide motifs, of use for biological and medicinal structure activity studies. The key to the overall efficiency is the judicious use of asymmetric catalysis and synthetic design. These green principles include the bidirectional use of highly stereoselective catalysis (Pd(0)-catalyzed glycosylation/post-glycosylation). In addition, the chemoselective use of C-C and C-O π-bond functionality, as atom-less protecting groups as well as an anomeric directing group (via a Pd-π-allyl), highlights the atom-economical aspects of the route to a divergent set of natural and unnatural oligosaccharides (i.e., various d-/l-diastereomers of oligosaccharides as well as deoxysugars which lack C-2 anomeric directing groups). For example, in only 12 steps, the construction of a highly branched heptasaccharide with 35 stereocenters was accomplished from an achiral acylfuran.

Total synthesis of fostriecin: via a regio- and stereoselective polyene hydration, oxidation, and hydroboration sequence.

A total synthesis of the fostriecin has been achieved in 24 steps from enyne 11. The lactone moiety was installed by a Leighton allylation and Grubbs ring-closing metathesis reaction. The highly reactive Z,Z,E-triene moiety was installed via a late-stage Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of a remarkably stable Z-vinyl boronate. The relative and absolute stereocenters of the C-8,9,11 triol were generated with a regio- and stereoselective asymmetric hydration/oxidation sequence.

A-1048400 is a novel, orally active, state-dependent neuronal calcium channel blocker that produces dose-dependent antinociception without altering hemodynamic function in rats.

Blockade of voltage-gated Ca²⁺ channels on sensory nerves attenuates neurotransmitter release and membrane hyperexcitability associated with chronic pain states. Identification of small molecule Ca²⁺ channel blockers that produce significant antinociception in the absence of deleterious hemodynamic effects has been challenging. In this report, two novel structurally related compounds, A-686085 and A-1048400, were identified that potently block N-type (IC₅₀=0.8 μM and 1.4 μM, respectively) and T-type (IC₅₀=4.6 μM and 1.2 μM, respectively) Ca²⁺ channels in FLIPR based Ca²⁺ flux assays. A-686085 also potently blocked L-type Ca²⁺ channels (EC₅₀=0.6 μM), however, A-1048400 was much less active in blocking this channel (EC₅₀=28 μM). Both compounds dose-dependently reversed tactile allodynia in a model of capsaicin-induced secondary hypersensitivity with similar potencies (EC₅₀=300-365 ng/ml). However, A-686085 produced dose-related decreases in mean arterial pressure at antinociceptive plasma concentrations in the rat, while A-1048400 did not significantly alter hemodynamic function at supra-efficacious plasma concentrations. Electrophysiological studies demonstrated that A-1048400 blocks native N- and T-type Ca²⁺ currents in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons (IC₅₀=3.0 μM and 1.6 μM, respectively) in a voltage-dependent fashion. In other experimental pain models, A-1048400 dose-dependently attenuated nociceptive, neuropathic and inflammatory pain at doses that did not alter psychomotor or hemodynamic function. The identification of A-1048400 provides further evidence that voltage-dependent inhibition of neuronal Ca²⁺ channels coupled with pharmacological selectivity vs. L-type Ca²⁺ channels can provide robust antinociception in the absence of deleterious effects on hemodynamic or psychomotor function.

Synthesis of several cleistrioside and cleistetroside natural products via a divergent de novo asymmetric approach.

The de novo asymmetric syntheses of several partially acylated dodecanyl tri- and tetra-rhamnoside natural products (cleistriosides-5 and 6 and cleistetrosides-2 to 7) have been achieved (19-24 steps). The divergent route requires the use of three or less protecting groups. The asymmetry was derived via Noyori reduction of an acylfuran. The rhamno-stereochemistry was installed by a diastereoselective palladium-catalyzed glycosylation, ketone reduction and dihydroxylation.

A de novo approach to the synthesis of glycosylated methymycin analogues with structural and stereochemical diversity.

A divergent and highly stereoselective route to 11 glycosylated methymycin analogues has been developed. The key to the success of this method was the iterative use of the Pd-catalyzed glycosylation reaction and postglycosylation transformation. This unique application of Pd-catalyzed glycosylation demonstrates the breath of α/β- and d/l-glycosylation of macrolides that can be efficiently prepared using a de novo asymmetric approach to the carbohydrate portion.

Cryptocaryols A and B: total syntheses, stereochemical revision, structure elucidation, and structure-activity relationship.

The first total syntheses and structural elucidation of cryptocaryol A and cryptocaryol B were achieved in 23 and 25 linear steps, respectively. The synthesis relied on the use of a key pseudo-Cs symmetric pentaol intermediate, which in a stereochemically divergent manner was converted into either enantiomer as well as diastereomers. This synthetic effort enabled the first structure-activity relationships of this class of PDCD4 stabilizing natural products.

Total synthesis of tetrahydrolipstatin and stereoisomers via a highly regio- and diastereoselective carbonylation of epoxyhomoallylic alcohols.

A concise enantioselective synthesis of tetrahydrolipstatin (THL) and seven stereoisomers has been achieved. The synthesis of THL was accomplished in 10 steps and 31% overall yield from an achiral ynone. Key to the success of the approach is the use of a bimetallic [Lewis acid]+[Co(CO)4]− catalyst for a late-stage regioselective carbonylation of an enantiomerically pure cis-epoxide to a trans-β-lactone. The success of this route to THL and its stereoisomers also demonstrated the practicality of the carbonylation catalyst for complex molecule synthesis as well as its functional group compatibility.

De novo asymmetric synthesis of the pyranoses: From monosaccharides to oligosaccharides

The various methods for the de novo asymmetric synthesis of the pyranose sugars are surveyed. The presentation begins with the work of Masamune and Sharpless with the use of the Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation for the synthesis of all eight l-hexoses. The development of other asymmetric reactions and their application for the synthesis of specific hexopyranoses are further discussed. The broad application of the Achmatowicz rearrangement with asymmetric catalysis, for the synthesis of various pyranones and imino sugars, is also presented. Finally, the use of a diastereoselective palladium-catalyzed glycosylation with the Achmatowicz approach for the synthesis of oligosaccharides and applications to medicinal chemistry are discussed.

De Novo Asymmetric Synthesis of Fridamycin E

A de novo asymmetric synthesis of (R)- and (S)-fridamycin E has been achieved. The entirely linear route required only nine steps from commercially available starting materials (16% overall yield). Key transformations included a Claisen rearrangement, a Sharpless dihydroxylation and a cobalt-catalyzed epoxide carbonylation to give a β-lactone intermediate. Antibacterial activities were determined for both enantiomers using two strains of E. coli, with the natural (R)-enantiomer showing significant inhibition against a Gram-(+)-like imp strain (MIC = 8 μM).

Monosaccharide digitoxin derivative sensitize human non-small cell lung cancer cells to anoikis through Mcl-1 proteasomal degradation.

Advanced stage cancers acquire anoikis resistance which provides metastatic potential to invade and form tumors at distant sites. Suppression of anoikis resistance by novel molecular therapies would greatly benefit treatment strategies for metastatic cancers. Recently, digitoxin and several of its novel synthetic derivatives, such as α-l-rhamnose monosaccharide derivative (D6-MA), have been synthesized and studied for their profound anticancer activity in various cancer cell lines. In this study, we investigated the anoikis sensitizing effect of D6-MA compared with digitoxin to identify their anti-metastatic mechanism of action. D6-MA sensitized NSCLC H460 cells to detachment-induced apoptosis with significantly greater cytotoxicity (IC50=11.9 nM) than digitoxin (IC50=90.7 nM) by activating caspase-9. Screening of the Bcl-2 protein family revealed that degradation of anti-apoptotic Mcl-1 protein is a favorable target. Mcl-1 over-expression and knockdown studies in D6-MA and digitoxin exposed cells resulted in rescue and enhancement, respectively, indicating a facilitative role for decreased Mcl-1 expression in NSCLC anoikis. Transfection with mutant Mcl-1S159 attenuated detachment-induced cell death and correlated with a remaining of Mcl-1 level. Furthermore, D6-MA suppressed Mcl-1 expression via ubiquitin proteasomal degradation that is dependent on activation of glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3β signaling. In addition, D6-MA also targeted Mcl-1 degradation causing an increased anoikis in A549 lung cancer cells. Anoikis sensitizing effect on normal small airway epithelial cells was not observed indicating the specificity of D6-MA and digitoxin for NSCLC. These results identify a novel cardiac glycoside (CG) sensitizing anoikis mechanism and provide a promising anti-metastatic target for lung cancer therapy.