Synthesis 2010(10): 1617-1620  
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1218722
PAPER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ˙ New York

Highly Stereoselective Synthesis of 2,3-Unsaturated Thioglycopyranosides Employing Molecular Iodine

Basi V. Subba Reddy*a, Ch. Divyavania,b, Jhillu S. Yadava
a Division of Organic Chemistry, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad 500 007, India
Fax: +91(40)27160512; e-Mail: basireddy@iict.res.in ;
b IICT - An Associate Institution of the University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad 500007, India

Further Information

Publication History

Received 29 January 2010
Publication Date:
06 April 2010 (online)

Abstract

Molecular iodine has been utilized for the first time for the thioglycosidation of d-glycals with various thiols to afford the corresponding 2,3-unsaturated thioglycosides in high yields. In the case of tri-O-acetyl-d-glucal, the α-anomer was obtained exclusively. The use of readily available iodine makes this method quite simple, more convenient, and practical.

Thioglycosides are important chiral building blocks for the synthesis of various biologically active natural products. [¹] Thioglycosides are used as glycosyl donors as they are stable under mild acidic or basic conditions and can be selectively activated by thiophilic reagents. [²] They are usually prepared by the reaction of glycals with thiols in the presence of acid catalysts. The acid-catalyzed allylic rearrangement of glycals in the presence of alcohols or thiols is known as Ferrier rearrangement, which is widely used to prepare 2,3-unsaturated glycosides. [³] The reaction, as originally reported by Ferrier, involves intermediacy of a cyclic allylic oxocarbenium ion to which the nucleophile adds preferentially in quasi-axial orientation. Consequently, there have been some reports on the preparation of thioglycosides using Lewis acids such as SnCl4, [4] BF3˙OEt2, [5] LiBF4, [6] and Sc(OTf)3. [7] However, many of these reagents are corrosive, moisture sensitive, and are required in stoichiometric amounts. Use of these reagents also lead to poor regioselectivity [4] [5] and hence low yields due to the formation of mixture of products containing 3-thioglycals [4] and 1,3-dithioadducts. [5]

Recently, molecular iodine has gained importance as a low-cost, nontoxic, and readily available catalyst for various organic transformations affording the corresponding products with high selectivity in excellent yields. [8] The mild Lewis acidity associated with iodine enhanced its usage in organic synthesis to perform several organic transformations using stoichiometric levels to catalytic amounts. Owing to advantages associated with this eco-friendly catalyst, molecular iodine has been explored as a powerful reagent in organic synthesis. [9]

In continuation of our interest on the use of molecular iodine for various organic transformations, [¹0] we herein report an efficient and practical method for the thiaglycosidation of glycals with thiols in dichloromethane using a catalytic amount of molecular iodine under mild conditions. Accordingly, treatment of tri-O-acetyl-d-glucal 1 with thiophenol (2) in the presence of 5 mol% of molecular iodine gave the 1-phenylthio-2,3-unsaturated glycoside 3a in 85% yield (Scheme  [¹] ).

Scheme 1 Reaction between glucal 1 and thiophenol (2)

Table 1 Iodine-Catalyzed Thioglycosidation of Glycals
Entry Glycal Thiol Product Time (min) Yield (%)a Ratio of α/β anomersb
a

20 85 -
b

20 80 -
c

15 90 -
d

15 85 -
e

15 89 -
f

20 80 -
g

20 71 -
h

25 80 9:1
i

25 83 9:1
j

30 70 4:1
k

30 75 4:1
l

25 80 5:1
m

25 82 5:1

a Yield refers to pure products after chromatography.
b Ratio was determined on the basis of the integrated ratios of the anomeric hydrogens in the ¹H NMR spectra and also by isolation of pure isomers by column chromatography.

Similarly, various aryl and alkyl thiols reacted well with tri-O-acetyl-d-glucal to furnish the aryl and alkyl 2,3-unsaturated thioglycosides in high yields. It is of interest to note that α-anomer was exclusively obtained in this reaction (Table  [¹] , entries b-g). In the case of propane-1,3-dithiol, monothioglycoside was obtained instead of dithioglycoside (Table  [¹] , entry g). The reaction is highly stereoselective affording α-anomer exclusively with triacetyl glucal (Table  [¹] , entries a-g). However, thioglycosidation of 3,4,6-tri-O-methyl-, 3,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-, and 3,4,6-tri-O-allyl-d-glucal with thiols gave the products in good yields, but with low selectivity when compared to acylated analogues. The predominant formation of α-anomer in the thiaglycosidation must arise from the thermodynamic anomeric effect. [¹¹] The amount of the α-anomer increased with long reaction time because the configuration at the anomeric position isomerizes due to the exposure of the product to the acidic conditions. The ratio of α and β-anomers was determined on the basis of integrated ratios of anomeric hydrogens in the ¹H NMR spectrum of the product and also by isolation of pure isomers on column chromatography. The configuration of the products was assigned by comparison of their spectral data with authentic compounds. [4] The spectroscopic data of the products was identical with the data reported in the literature. The results are summarized in Table  [¹] . The scope and generality of the reaction is illustrated with respect to various thiols and glycals. This method offers significant advantages such as high yields, short reaction times, high α-selectivity, and mild conditions over classical thia-Ferrier conditions. No 3-thioglycals and 1,3-dithioadducts were formed under these reaction conditions, which are normally observed with a stoichiometric amount of either BF3˙OEt2 or SnCl4.

In conclusion, iodine has proved to be an effective catalyst for the synthesis of thioglycosides from glycals and thiols by means of thia-Ferrier rearrangement. The method has advantages of mild reaction conditions, high conversions, short reaction times, remarkable selectivity, and simple experimental/workup procedures, which makes it a useful and alternative process for the synthesis of thioglycosides.

Melting points were recorded on a Büchi R-535 apparatus and are uncorrected. IR spectra were recorded on a Perkin-Elmer FT-IR 240-c spectrophotometer using KBr optics. ¹H NMR and ¹³C spectra were recorded on Gemini-200 spectrometer (200 MHz) in CDCl3 using TMS as internal standard. Mass spectra were recorded on a Finnigan MAT 1020 mass spectrometer operating at 70 eV. Column chromatography was performed using E. Merck 100-200 mesh silica gel.

Thioglycoside 3a; Typical Procedure

A mixture of 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-d-glucal (1; 272 mg, 1 mmol), thiophenol (2; 108 mg, 1 mmol), and I2 (20 mg, 5 mol%) in CH2Cl2 (15 mL) was stirred at r.t. for 0.5 h. After complete conversion, as indicated by TLC, the mixture was diluted with sat. aq Na2S2O3 (10 mL) and extracted with CH2Cl2 (2 × 10 mL). The combined organic layers were dried (Na2SO4) and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (EtOAc-hexane, 2:8) to afford the pure thioglycoside 3a as a solid; yield: 320 mg (85%); mp 58-60 ˚C.

IR (KBr): 3458, 3059, 2926, 1742, 1581, 1475, 1440, 1372, 1232, 1124, 1046, 975, 899, 784, 745 cm.

¹H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 7.52-7.47 (m, 2 H), 7.31-7.24 (m, 3 H), 6.05 (dt, J = 2.4, 10.3 Hz, 1 H), 5.85 (dt, J = 1.5, 10.3 Hz, 1 H), 5.74-5.70 (m, 1 H), 5.37-5.32 (m, 1 H), 4.43 (td, J = 2.4, 6.3 Hz, 1 H), 4.27 (dd, J = 6.3, 11.8 Hz, 2 H), 2.11 (s, 3 H), 2.05 (s, 3 H).

¹³C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 170.6, 170.2, 134.8, 132.6, 129.8, 128.9, 128.7, 128.5, 127.6, 127.1, 83.6, 67.3, 65.4, 63.2, 63.0, 20.9.

ESI-MS: m/z = 345 (M + Na)+.

HRMS: m/z calcd for C16H18O5S + Na: 345.0772; found: 345.0762.

3b

Solid.

IR (KBr): 2926, 1744, 1644, 1587, 1500, 1369, 1056, 947, 854, 784, 635 cm.

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 7.60-7.70 (m, 4 H), 7.3-7.40 (m, 3 H), 6.40 (d, J = 6.0 Hz, 1 H), 5.10 (dd, J = 4.5 Hz, 1 H), 4.90 (t, J = 5.2 Hz, 1 H), 4.30-4.40 (m, 3 H), 4.25 (dt, J = 4.5, 2.2 Hz, 1 H), 2.04 (s, 3 H), 2.02 (s, 3 H).

ESI-MS: m/z = 372 (M + Na)+, 395.

3c

Liquid.

IR (neat): 2925, 1743, 1477, 1437, 1231, 1086, 1055, 976, 905, 785, 649 cm.

¹H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 7.40-7.49 (d, J = 8.7 Hz, 2 H), 7.20 (d, J = 8.7 Hz, 2 H), 5.90-6.00 (m, 1 H), 5.83-5.89 (m, 1 H), 5.29-5.37 (m, 1 H), 5.65-5.68 (m, 1 H), 4.39 (q, J = 4.3 Hz, 1 H), 4.22 (d, J = 4.3 Hz, 2 H), 2.11 (s, 3 H), 2.07 (s, 3 H).

¹³C NMR (50 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 170.15, 169.78, 133.95, 133.40, 132.96, 129.10, 128.17, 128.13, 83.65, 67.47, 65.01, 62.90, 20.93, 20.73.

ESI-MS: m/z = 356 (M+), 321, 245, 214, 154, 112, 83, 43.

3d

Liquid.

IR (neat): 2928, 2190, 1749, 1646, 1565, 1499, 1451, 1370, 1239, 1052, 809, 780, 656 cm.

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 7.59 (m, 1 H), 7.14 (m, 3 H), 6.09-6.06 (m, 1 H), 5.88-5.82 (m, 1 H), 5.72-5.69 (m, 1 H), 4.42-4.35 (m, 1 H), 4.32-4.23 (m, 1 H), 4.16 (d, J = 2.0 Hz, 1 H), 2.42 (s, 3 H), 2.11 (s, 3 H), 2.03 (s, 3 H).

LC-MS: m/z = 336 (M + Na)+, 359.

3e

Liquid.

IR (neat): 2925, 2090, 1741, 1641, 1492, 1451, 1370, 1231, 1052, 809, 780 cm.

¹H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3 + DMSO-d 6): δ = 7.35 (d, J = 7.5 Hz, 2 H), 7.08 (d, J = 7.5 Hz, 2 H), 6.01-6.06 (m, 1 H), 5.80-5.84 (m, 1 H), 5.61-5.64 (m, 1 H), 5.30-5.35 (m, 1 H), 4.38- 4.44 (m, 1 H), 4.16-4.27 (m 2 H), 2.34 (s, 3 H), 2.11 (s, 3 H), 2.07 (s, 3 H).

ESI-MS: m/z = 336 (M + Na)+, 359.

3f

Liquid.

IR (neat): 2958, 2928, 2869, 1744, 1645, 1455, 1370, 1233, 1050, 975, 905, 792 cm.

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 5.96-5.87 (m, 1 H), 5.77-6.72 (m, 1 H), 5.48 (br s, 1 H), 5.33-5.28 (m, 1 H), 4.27-4.11 (m, 3 H), 2.76-2.56 (m, 2 H), 2.08 (s, 6 H), 1.68-1.58 (m, 2 H), 1.49-1.37 (m, 2 H), 0.94 (t, J = 7.6 Hz, 3 H).

ESI-MS: m/z = 325 (M + Na)+.

HRMS: m/z calcd for C14H22O5S + Na: 325.1085; found: 325.1088.

3g

Liquid.

IR (neat): 2926, 1743, 1649, 1372, 1222, 1103, 1042 cm.

¹H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 5.90 (dt, J = 1.5, 10.1 Hz, 1 H), 5.76 (dt, J = 1.5, 10.1 Hz, 1 H), 5.51-5.47 (m, 1 H), 5.35-5.25 (m, 1 H), 4.25 (t, J = 4.6 Hz, 1 H), 4.19 (dd, J = 3.1, 9.3 Hz, 2 H), 1.95-1.97 (m, 2 H), 2.88-2.58 (m, 4 H), 2.09 (s, 6 H), 1.27 (t, J = 7.8 Hz, 1 H).

¹³C NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 190.0, 189.7, 148.3, 146.4, 118.1, 100.0, 96.5, 93.5, 84.4, 53.0, 49.1, 40.3, 20.5.

ESI-MS: m/z = 343 (M + Na)+.

HRMS: m/z calcd for C13H20O5S2 + Na: 343.0649; found: 343.0648.

3h

Liquid.

IR (neat): 3054, 2962, 2822, 1581, 1472, 1384, 1313, 1193, 1106, 974, 848, 782 cm.

¹H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 7.51-7.45 (m, 2 H), 7.27-7.16 (m, 3 H), 6.02-5.89 (m, 1 H), 5.69-5.65 (m, 1 H), 4.11 (dd, J = 2.2, 4.4 Hz, 1 H), 4.15-4.07 (m, 1 H), 3.90-3.86 (m, 1 H), 3.64-3.58 (m, 2 H), 3.38 (s, 6 H).

¹³C NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 135.7, 131.2, 128.7, 128.5, 128.2, 127.0, 96.1, 84.0, 81.7, 72.2, 71.5, 69.2, 56.2, 29.7.

ESI-MS: m/z = 289 (M + Na)+.

HRMS: m/z calcd for C14H18O3S + Na: 289.0874; found: 289.0871.

3i

Liquid.

IR (neat): 2926, 2822, 1730, 1588, 1463, 1382, 1314, 1193, 1110, 1051, 975, 949, 849, 782, 749, 711, 527 cm.

¹H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 7.51-7.60 (m, 1 H), 7.08-7.13 (m, 3 H), 5.94-6.05 (m, 2 H), 5.68-5.70 (m, 1 H), 4.07-4.13 (q, J = 2.6 Hz, 1 H), 3.93-3.97 (t, J = 1.5 Hz, 1 H), 3.54-3.60 (d, J = 3.7 Hz, 2 H), 3.42 (s, 3 H), 3.30 (s, 3 H), 2.30 (s, 3 H).

ESI-MS: m/z = 280 (M + Na)+, 303.

3j

Liquid.

IR (neat): 3030, 2919, 2862, 1725, 1645, 1493, 1452, 1371, 1306, 1206, 1179, 1080, 1023, 949, 849, 809, 780, 738, 698 cm.

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 7.39 (d, J = 8.3 Hz, 2 H), 6.99-7.10 (d, J = 8.3 Hz, 2 H), 7.23-7.30 (m, 10 H), 5.95-5.97 (m, 1 H), 5.62-5.63 (m, 1 H), 4.50-4.58 (m, 2 H), 3.75-3.72 (m, 2 H), 2.31 (s, 3 H).

ESI-MS: m/z = 422 (M + H)+, 455.

3k

Liquid.

IR (neat): 2920, 2865, 1763, 1678, 1532, 1521, 1470, 1078, 932, 742, 698, 535 cm.

¹H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 7.48-7.45 (m, 1 H), 7.41 (d, J = 7.9 Hz, 2 H), 7.3-7.20 (m, 10 H), 7.13 (d, J = 7.9 Hz, 2 H), 5.96 (dt, J = 10.1, 1.4 Hz, 2 H), 5.67-5.60 (m, 1 H), 4.60-4.40 (m, 5 H), 3.71 (d, J = 3.6 Hz, 2 H).

LC-MS: m/z = 452.5 (M + Na)+, 475.5.

3l

Liquid.

IR (neat): 2924, 2855, 1743, 1646, 1544, 1549, 1458, 1089, 922, 741, 693, 585 cm.

¹H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 7.50-7.30 (m, 2 H), 7.27-7.20 (m, 3 H), 5.91-5.70 (m, 3 H), 5.60 (d, J = 5.1 Hz, 1 H), 5.30-5.10 (m, 3 H), 4.00-3.90 (m, 6 H), 3.70-3.20 (m, 2 H).

LC-MS: m/z = 318 (M + Na)+, 341.

3m

Liquid.

IR (neat): 2958, 2924, 2854, 2362, 1736, 1646, 1459, 1375, 1270, 1081, 996, 922, 770 cm.

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 7.48 (d, J = 6.7 Hz, 2 H), 7.23 (d, J = 6.7 Hz, 2 H), 5.76-6.02 (m, 6 H), 5.63-5.65 (m, 1 H), 5.16-5.30 (m, 4 H), 3.96-4.22 (m, 6 H), 3.60 (d, J = 3.0 Hz, 2 H).

ESI-MS: m/z = 352 (M + Na)+, 375.

Acknowledgment

Ch.D. thanks CSIR New Delhi for the award of a fellowship.

    References

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  • 1b Halcomb RL. Wittman MD. Olson SH. Danishefsky SJ. Golik J. Wong H. Vyas D. J. Am. Chem. Soc.  1991,  113:  5080 
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  • 3b Ferrier RJ. Prasad N. J. Chem. Soc. C.  1969,  570 
  • 3c Fraser-Reid B. Acc. Chem. Res.  1985,  18:  347 
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  • 5b Blattner R. Ferrier RJ. Furneaux RH. Tetrahedron: Asymmetry  2000,  11:  379 
  • 6 Babu BS. Balasubramanian KK. Tetrahedron Lett.  1999,  40:  5777 
  • 7 Yadav JS. Reddy BVS. Geetha V. Synth. Commun.  2003,  33:  717 
  • 8a Yadav JS. Reddy BVS. Premalatha K. Swamy T. Tetrahedron Lett.  2005,  46:  2687 
  • 8b Huang G. Isobe M. Tetrahedron  2001,  57:  10241 
  • 8c Tsukiyama T. Peters SC. Isobe M. Synlett  1993,  413 
  • 8d Hosokawa S. Kirschbaum B. Isobe M. Tetrahedron Lett.  1998,  39:  1917 
  • 8e Tsukiyama T. Isobe M. Tetrahedron Lett.  1992,  33:  7911 
  • 9a Togo H. Iida S. Synlett  2006,  2159 
  • 9b Banik BK. Fernandez M. Alvarez C. Tetrahedron Lett.  2005,  46:  2479 
  • 9c Kartha KPR. Ballell L. Bilke J. McNeil M. Field RA. J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1  2001,  770 
  • 9d Koreeda M. Houston TA. Shull BK. Klemke E. Tuinman RJ. Synlett  1995,  90 
  • 9e Vaino RK. Szarek WA. Synlett  1995,  1157 
  • 9f Lipshutz BH. Keith J. Tetrahedron Lett.  1998,  39:  2495 
  • 9g Ko S. Sastry MNV. Lin C. Yao CF. Tetrahedron Lett.  2005,  46:  5771 
  • 10a Yadav JS. Reddy BVS. Hashim SR. J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1  2000,  3082 
  • 10b Yadav JS. Reddy BVS. Sabitha G. Reddy GSKK. Synthesis  2000,  1532 
  • 10c Yadav JS. Reddy BVS. Rao CV. Rao KV. J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1  2002,  1401 
  • 10d Yadav JS. Reddy BVS. Rao CV. Chand PK. Prasad AR. Synlett  2001,  1638 
  • 10e Yadav JS. Reddy BVS. Narayana Kumar GGKS. Swamy T. Tetrahedron Lett.  2007,  48:  2205 
  • 11 Kirby AJ. The Anomeric Effect and Related Stereoelectronic Effects at Oxygen   Spinger-Verlag; New York: 1983. 

    References

  • 1a Sinay P. Pure Appl. Chem.  1991,  63:  519 
  • 1b Halcomb RL. Wittman MD. Olson SH. Danishefsky SJ. Golik J. Wong H. Vyas D. J. Am. Chem. Soc.  1991,  113:  5080 
  • 2 Fukase K. Nakai Y. Kanoh T. Kusumoto S. Synlett  1998,  84 
  • 3a Ferrier RJ. Adv. Carbohydr. Chem. Biochem.  1969,  24:  199 
  • 3b Ferrier RJ. Prasad N. J. Chem. Soc. C.  1969,  570 
  • 3c Fraser-Reid B. Acc. Chem. Res.  1985,  18:  347 
  • 4 Priebe W. Zamojski A. Tetrahedron  1980,  36:  287 
  • 5a Dunkerton LV. Adair NK. Euske JM. Brady KT. Robinson PD. J. Org. Chem.  1988,  53:  845 
  • 5b Blattner R. Ferrier RJ. Furneaux RH. Tetrahedron: Asymmetry  2000,  11:  379 
  • 6 Babu BS. Balasubramanian KK. Tetrahedron Lett.  1999,  40:  5777 
  • 7 Yadav JS. Reddy BVS. Geetha V. Synth. Commun.  2003,  33:  717 
  • 8a Yadav JS. Reddy BVS. Premalatha K. Swamy T. Tetrahedron Lett.  2005,  46:  2687 
  • 8b Huang G. Isobe M. Tetrahedron  2001,  57:  10241 
  • 8c Tsukiyama T. Peters SC. Isobe M. Synlett  1993,  413 
  • 8d Hosokawa S. Kirschbaum B. Isobe M. Tetrahedron Lett.  1998,  39:  1917 
  • 8e Tsukiyama T. Isobe M. Tetrahedron Lett.  1992,  33:  7911 
  • 9a Togo H. Iida S. Synlett  2006,  2159 
  • 9b Banik BK. Fernandez M. Alvarez C. Tetrahedron Lett.  2005,  46:  2479 
  • 9c Kartha KPR. Ballell L. Bilke J. McNeil M. Field RA. J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1  2001,  770 
  • 9d Koreeda M. Houston TA. Shull BK. Klemke E. Tuinman RJ. Synlett  1995,  90 
  • 9e Vaino RK. Szarek WA. Synlett  1995,  1157 
  • 9f Lipshutz BH. Keith J. Tetrahedron Lett.  1998,  39:  2495 
  • 9g Ko S. Sastry MNV. Lin C. Yao CF. Tetrahedron Lett.  2005,  46:  5771 
  • 10a Yadav JS. Reddy BVS. Hashim SR. J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1  2000,  3082 
  • 10b Yadav JS. Reddy BVS. Sabitha G. Reddy GSKK. Synthesis  2000,  1532 
  • 10c Yadav JS. Reddy BVS. Rao CV. Rao KV. J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1  2002,  1401 
  • 10d Yadav JS. Reddy BVS. Rao CV. Chand PK. Prasad AR. Synlett  2001,  1638 
  • 10e Yadav JS. Reddy BVS. Narayana Kumar GGKS. Swamy T. Tetrahedron Lett.  2007,  48:  2205 
  • 11 Kirby AJ. The Anomeric Effect and Related Stereoelectronic Effects at Oxygen   Spinger-Verlag; New York: 1983. 

Scheme 1 Reaction between glucal 1 and thiophenol (2)