Di-tert-butylsilylene-directed alpha-selective synthesis of p-nitrophenyl T-antigen analogues.

Seven analogues of p-nitrophenyl T-antigen [Galbeta(1-->3)GalNAcalpha(1-->O)PNP] have been synthesized as potential substrates for elucidation of the substrate specificity of endo-alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase. These compounds, which are commercially unavailable, include: GlcNAcbeta(1-->3){GlcNAcbeta(1-->6)}GalNAcalpha(1-->O)PNP [core 4 type], GalNAcalpha(1-->3)GalNAcalpha(1-->O)PNP [core 5 type], GlcNAcbeta(1-->6)GalNAcalpha(1-->O)PNP [core 6 type], GalNAcalpha(1-->6)GalNAcalpha(1-->O)PNP [core 7 type], Galalpha(1-->3)GalNAcalpha(1-->O)PNP [core 8 type], Glcbeta(1-->3)GalNAcalpha(1-->O)PNP and GalNAcbeta(1-->3)GalNAcalpha(1-->O)PNP. The assembly of these synthetic probes was accomplished efficiently, based on di-tert-butylsilylene(DTBS)-directed alpha-galactosylation as a key reaction.