Michael Addition of Thiols to Sugar Enones. Synthesis of 3-Deoxy-4-Thiohexopyranosid-2-uloses as Key Precursors of 3-Deoxy- and C-2 Branched-Chain 4-Thiosugars

Abstract

Benzyl and 2-propyl 6-O-acetyl-3,4-dideoxy-α -D-glycero-hex-3-enopyranosid-2-uloses (2) and (3) were readily prepared by the tin(IV) chloride-promoted glycosylation of glycal (1). The enone system of (2) and (3) underwent a highly diastereoselective Michael addition of thiols (ethanethiol, propane-2-thiol, and benzenemethanethiol) to afford the sulfur-containing hexopyranosid-2-ulose derivatives (4a-c) and (5a-c) in good yields. Sodium borohydride reduction of the carbonyl functionalities of (4b,c) and (5b) led to the corresponding 3-deoxy-4-thiohexopyranosides having the D-xylo (6b), (6c), and (8b) or the D-lyxo (7b), (7c), and (8c) configuration. Standard acetylation of these compounds gave the corresponding per-O-acetyl derivatives (10b), (10c), and (12b) and (11b), (11c), and (13b), useful for confirming all the previous configurational assignments by means of their ¹H and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectra. Furthermore the 2-ulose (5b) proved to be a key intermediate for the synthesis of C-2 branched-chain 4-thiopyranosides, such as (16). The latter was synthesized by a good yielding ammonium acetate-catalysed Knoevenagel-type condensation of malononitrile with (5b).