Preliminary communication

The synthesis of branched-chain amino sugars from C-methylene sugars: a re-assignment of structure

Evernitrose (2,3,6-trideoxy-3-C-methyl-4-O-methyl-3-nitro-L-arabino-hexopyranose) was synthesized from methyl 2,6-dideoxy-4-O-methyl-α-L-erythro-hexopyranosid-3-ulose (2) through introduction of an amino group attached to the tertiary branching carbon by the method of Bourgeois, and subsequent oxidation of the amino group by m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid to a nitro group. 3-Cyano-3-O-mesylation of 2 by Bourgeois's method gave exclusively the desired product having the L-ribo configuration; furthermore, the β anomer of 2 gave the L-ribo and L-arabino products in the ratio of 1:2. The latter compound was converted into 3-epi-evernitrose by a similar sequence of reactions.

An improved method of azidomercuration with mercuric trifluoroacetate is described. Applied to unsaturated carbohydrates it provides a high yield synthesis of aminosugars. In the example herein reported, 80% regioselectivity and total stereospecificity are obtained.

The reaction of 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-3-C-methylene-α-D-ribo-hexofuranose (4) with mercuric azide in hot 50% aqueous tetrahydrofuran yielded, after reductive demercuration, 3-azido-3-deoxy-1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-3-C-methyl-α-D-glucofuranose (5). Partial, acid hydrolysis of5 afforded the diol7, which gave 3-azido-3-deoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-5,6-di-O-methanesulphonyl-3-C-methyl-α-D-glucofuranose (8) on sulphonylation. On hydrogenation over a platinum catalyst and N-acetylation, the dimethanesulphonate 8 furnished 3,6-acetylepimino-3,6-dideoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-5-O-methanesulphonyl-3-C-methyl-α-D-glucofuranose (9), which was also prepared by an analogous sequence of reactions on 3-azido-3-deoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-5-O-methanesulphonyl-3-C-methyl-6-O-toluene-p-sulphonyl-α-D-glucofuranose (13). The formation of the N-acetylepimine 9 establishes the D-gluco configuration for 5.

1,2-O-Isopropylidene-3-C-methylene-α-D-ribo-hexofuranose (20) reacted with mercuric azide in aqueous tetrahydrofuran at ≈85° to give 3,6-anhydro-1,2-O-isopropylidene-3-C-methyl-α-D-glucofuranose (22) as a result of intramolecular participation by the C-6 hydroxyl group in the initial intermediate.