First total synthesis of a naturally occurring iodinated 5'-deoxyxylofuranosyl marine nucleoside.

4-Amino-7-(5'-deoxy-β-D-xylofuranosyl)-5-iodo-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine 1, an unusual naturally occurring marine nucleoside isolated from an ascidan, Diplosoma sp., was synthesized from D-xylose in seven steps with 28% overall yield on 10 g scale. The key step was Vorbrüggen glycosylation of 5-iodo-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine with 5-deoxy-1,2-O-diacetyl-3-O-benzoyl-D-xylofuranose. Its absolute configuration was confirmed.

1. Introduction

Naturally occurring deazapurine nucleosides, such as tubercidin [1], toyocamycin [2], sangivamycin [3], cadeguomycin [4] and recently isolated marine nucleoside 5-iodo-5′-deoxytubercidin, mycalesine A and B [5], showed significant biological activities. Structurally related pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine nucleosides have triggered the continued interest of medicinal chemists in the past decades [6,7,8].

Although many uncommon nucleosides have been isolated from terrestrial and marine organisms [5,9,10], nucleosides containing D-xylofuranose are rare in nature [11]. In 2008, 4-amino-7-(5′-deoxy-β-D-xylofuranosyl)-5-iodo-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine 1 was first isolated by Japanese scientists from an ascidan, Diplosoma sp. It was found that nucleoside 1 causes complete inhibition of cell division in fertilized sea urchin eggs at 1 µg/mL concentration [12]. This compound is a potential lead for development of new insecticides. As part of our continuing effort for synthesis of bioactive natural 7-deazapurine nucleosides, we report the first total synthesis and structure confirmation of 1.

2. Results and Discussion

In nucleoside chemistry, Vorbrüggen glycosylation (Silyl-Hilbert-Johnson reaction) is one of the most efficient approaches for nucleoside synthesis. This reaction has been widely applied in academic and industrial research [13,14,15]. According to the proposed mechanism of Vorbrüggen glycosylation, silylated nucleobase attacks the intermediate oxonium to give desired nucleoside. Different from purine and pyrimidine nucleobases, such as adenine and thymine, pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines (7-deazapurine) were seldom used as donors in Vorbrüggen glycosylation. The reason might be possibly ascribed to the nonreactive nature of N-7 in pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines [16,17].

In order to circumvent this problem, nucleobase-anion glycosylation protocol was developed for the synthesis of 7-deazapurine nucleosides and their analogues by Robins [18,19] and Seela [20,21,22]. In this approach, labile α-D-furanosyl chloride intermediates, such as 2, must be prepared via a lengthy synthetic route with poor yield [23,24] (Figure 1). This drawback limits its application.

Figure 1

Chemical structure of pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine nucleoside 1 and its retrosynthetic analysis.

From a synthetic point of view, Vorbrüggen glycosylation is one of the ideal choices for synthesis of pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine nucleosides because of commercial availability of carbohydrate acceptors. Recently, it was found that pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine nucleobases with electro-withdrawing groups (such as Cl, Br, I, etc.) at 5-position can be successfully used as donors in Vorbrüggen glycosylation for the preparation of pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine nucleosides with good yields [25,26,27,28]. However, its application in synthesis of xylofuranose pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine nucleosides has not been reported. It is important to further prove this protocol’s generality and reproducibility. We herein report a practical and efficient synthesis of 1 from D-xylose with application of Vorbrüggen glycosylation as the key step (Scheme 1).

Scheme 1

Total synthesis of pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine nucleoside 1. Reagents and conditions: (a) (a1) Conc. H2SO4, acetone, 0 °C, 3 h; (a2) 5% Na2CO3 aq., 30 min, 87%; (b) TsCl (1.1 eq.), THF, Et3N, 0 °C, overnight, 92%; (c) LiAlH4 (0.5 eq.), THF, reflux, 6 h, 95%; (d) BzCl (1.1 eq), CH2Cl2, Et3N, 2 h, 98%; (e) Conc. H2SO4, Ac2O, 26 h, 78%; (f) POCl3 (excess), reflux, 3 h, 98%; (g) NIS (1.01 eq.), DMF, 0 °C, 2 h, 98%; (h) 4 (1 eq.), BSA (1.2 eq.), TMSOTf (1 eq.), CH3CN, rt-80 °C, 12 h 56%; (i) Sat. NH3 in MeOH (excess), 130 °C, 12 h, 82%.

5-Deoxy-D-xylose glycosylation acceptor 3 was synthesized starting with D-xylose 5. Crystalline 1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-D-xylofuranose 6 was prepared in 87% yield by sulfuric acid-catalyzed acetalation of D-xylose, followed by partial hydrolysis with aqueous sodium carbonate added directly to the crude acetalation mixture in one pot [29]. Then 5-OH was selectively tosylated with p-toluenesulfonyl chloride and triethylamine in THF to afford monotosylate 7 in 92% yield. After refluxing with 2 equiv. of LiAlH4 in anhydrous THF, the tosylate was reduced to a methyl group in excellent 95% yield to afford 8 [30]. Subsequent benzoylation of 3-OH gave compound 9 in almost quantitative yield. Finally, the acetonide 9 was transformed to D-xylose diacetate glycosylation acceptor 3 as a mixed isomers (α:β = 2:3) on 50 g scale [31].

For preparation of nucleobase 4, chlorination of pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-ol 11 with phosphoryl chloride gave 4-chloro-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine 12 in 93% yield [32,33]. The reaction of 12 with 1.05 equiv. of NIS in DMF at room temperature afforded the iodinated base 4 in 95% yield on 100 g scale [25].

Next, we intended to synthesize the target molecule 1 using Vorbrüggen glycosylation. After extensive optimization of various Lewis acids, solvents, reaction temperature, it was found that the best condition were the useof 1.2 equiv. of bis(trimethylsilyl)acetamide (BSA) as silylating reagent, 2 equiv. oftrimethylsilyl triflate (TMSOTf) as Lewis acid, freshly distilled acetonitrile as solvent, and heating at 80 °C for 12 h. Then 1 equiv. 5-iodo-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine 4 was first treated with 1.2 equiv. of BSA, followed by 1.2 equiv. of 5′-deoxy-1,2,3-tri-O-acetyl-β-D-xylofuranose 3 and 2 equiv. of TMSOTf at room temperature. The resulting mixture was heated to 80 °C for 12 h. After workup, column chromatography afforded 4-chloro-7-(5′-deoxy-β-D-xylofuranosyl)-5-iodo-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine 10 in 56% yield as pure β anomer on 20 g scale. The glycosylation yield was lower than that of the corresponding 5′-deoxy-1,2,3-tri-O-acetyl-D-ribofuranose acceptor, which typically gave more than 80% yield [25]. It may be due to the steric hindrance of 3′-β substitute. At last, 10 was suspended in a saturated solution of ammonia in methanol, and the resulting solution was heated at 130 °C in an autoclave for 12 h to remove the protecting ester groups and substitute the 4-Cl by 4-NH2on the base. The target nucleoside 1 [12] was obtained in 82% yield on 10 g scale (Scheme 1), which is sufficient for further biological studies and structure modification.

Because both D and L carbohydrate are present in marine natural products, Ueda and coworkers synthesized dibenzoates of 1 and 1-methyl-O-5-deoxy-β-L-xylofuranoside and compared their CD spectra to determine the absolute configuration of 1 [12]. According to their opposite cotton effect curves, the absolute configuration of 1 was indirectly determined to be D. In order to further confirm its precise configuration, the CD spectrum of synthesized 1 was determined and found identical to reported data [λext 242 nm (∆ε −1.9) and λext 210 nm (∆ε −2.6)]. Furthermore, because the starting material is D-xylose, the absolute configuration of nucleoside 1 is undoubtedly D. All other spectral data are in agreement with that of the reported natural nucleoside 1 [12].

3. Experimental Section

3.1. General

4-Chloro-5-iodo-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine was synthesized in our lab on 500 g scale. BSA and TMSOTf were purchased from Sigma Aldrich. MeCN was dried over CaH2 and distilled prior to use. Thin layer chromatography was performed using silica gel GF-254 plates (Qing-Dao Chemical Company, Qingdao, China) with detection by UV (254 nm), or charting with 10% sulfuric acid in ethanol. Column chromatography was performed on silica gel (200–300 mesh, purchased from Qing-Dao Chemical Company, Qingdao, China). NMR spectra were recorded on a Bruker AV400 spectrometer and chemical shifts (δ) are reported in ppm. 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectra were calibrated with TMS as internal standard and coupling constants (J) are reported in Hz. The ESI-HRMS were obtained on a Bruker Dalton microTOFQ II spectrometer in positive ion mode.

3.2. Synthesis of 1,2-O-Isopropylidene-α-D-xylofuranose 6

D-Xylose (20.0 g, 134 mmoL) was suspended in acetone (500 mL) containing concentrated H2SO4 (20.0 mL, 98%). The mixture was stirred for 30 min at room temperature. Then a solution of Na2CO3 (26.0 g, 246 mmol) in water (224 mL) was added carefully with cooling to 0 °C. After addition, the mixture was stirred for a further 3 h. Then, solid Na2CO3 (14.0 g, 132 mmoL) was added in 3 portions over 30 min. The resulted Na2SO4 was filtered off and washed with acetone. The combined filtrates were evaporated to give crude 6, which was purified by a silica gel column (CHCl3:Me2CO = 18:1, Rf = 0.32) to afford crystallized 6 (22.2 g, 87%). mp 42–43 °C; 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ: 5.97 (d, J= 4.4 Hz, 1H), 4.51 (d, J = 4.4 Hz, 1H), 4.31 (d, J = 2.0 Hz, 1H), 4.27 (d, J = 4.4 Hz, 1H), 4.16 (q, 1H), 4.09 (d, J = 4.8 Hz, 1H), 4.03 (d, J= 2.8 Hz, 1H), 2.04 (s, 1H), 1.47 (s, 3H), 1.31 (s, 3H); 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) δ: 111.8, 104.8, 85.6, 78.8, 78.7, 61.0, 26.7, 26.2.

3.3. Synthesis of 5-O-Tosylate-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-D-xylofuranose 7

A solution of TsCl (83.9 g, 440 mmoL) in THF (500 mL) was added slowly to 1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-D-xylofuranose 6 (76.1 g, 400 mmol) in THF (400 mL) and Et3N (300 mL) at 0 °C. After addition, the solution was stirred at room temperature overnight. CH3OH (10 mL) was added to quench the reaction. After filtration, the resulting solution was evaporated to dryness. The residue was dissolved in EtOAc (500 mL) and washed with H2O (100 mL), sat. NaHCO3 (100 mL) and brine (100 mL), then dried with anhydrous Na2SO4. After filtration, the solution was evaporated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified over a silica gel column (EtOAc:Hexane = 1:1) to afford 7 (126.7 g, 92%). mp 134–135 °C; 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ: 7.80 (d, J = 8.4 Hz, 2H), 7.36 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 2H), 5.88 (d, J = 4.8 Hz, 1H), 4.52 (d, J = 3.6 Hz, 1H), 4.34~4.31 (m, 3H), 4.13 (q, 1H), 2.46 (s, 3H), 2.27 (d, J = 4.8 Hz, 1H), 1.59 (s, 1H), 1.47 (s, 3H), 1.30 (s, 3H); 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) δ: 145.3, 132.4, 130.0, 128.0, 112.2, 104.9, 85.0, 76.7, 74.3, 66.0, 26.8, 26.2, 21.7; MS (ESI) m/z 345.2 [M + H]+.

3.4. Synthesis of 5-Deoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-D-xylofuranose 8

LiAlH4 (3.8 g, 100 mmol) was added in portions to 5-O-tosylate-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-D-xylofuranose 7 (68.9 g, 200 mmol) in anhydrous THF (800 mL). The resulting suspension was refluxed for 6 h. EtOAc (50 mL) was added slowly to quench the reaction. Then H2O (100 mL) was added and the suspension was stirred for 2 h at room temperature. After filtration over Celite, the filtrate was evaporated to remove THF. EtOAc (500 mL) was added. The solution was washed with H2O (100 mL), sat. NaHCO3 (100 mL) and brine (100 mL), then dried with anhydrous Na2SO4. After filtration, the solution was evaporated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified over a silica gel column (EtOAc:Hexane = 1:2, Rf = 0.35) to afford 8 (33.0 g, 95%) as white solid. mp 81–83 °C; 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ: 5.83 (d, J = 3.6 Hz, 1H), 4.47 (d, J = 3.6 Hz, 1H), 4.25 (t, 1H), 3.93 (s, 1H), 2.78 (d, J = 4.0 Hz, 1H), 1.44 (s, 3H), 1.24 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 6H); 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) δ: 111.4, 104.3, 85.5, 76.2, 76.1, 26.5, 26.1, 12.8; MS (ESI) m/z 175.3 [M + H]+.

3.5. Synthesis of 5-Deoxy-3-O-benzoyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-D-xylofuranose 9

Benzoyl chloride (8.71 g, 62 mmol) was added slowly to a solution of 5-deoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-D-xylofuranose 8 (9 g, 51.7 mmol) in anhydrous pyridine (100 mL) at 0 °C. The resulting solution was stirred for 2 h at room temperature. Ethanol (0.5 mL) was added to quench the reaction. It was evaporated under reduced pressure to dryness. The residue was dissolved in DCM (300 mL) and washed with H2O (50 mL), sat. NaHCO3 (50 mL) and brine (50 mL), then dried with anhydrous Na2SO4. After filtration, the resulting solution was evaporated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified over a silica gel column (EtOAc:Hexane = 1:3, Rf = 0.3) to afford 9 (14.0 g, 98%) as white solid. 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ: 8.02 (d, J = 7.6 Hz, 2H), 7.57 (t, 1H), 7.41 (t, 2H), 5.95 (d, J = 3.6 Hz, 1H), 5.32 (d, J = 2.4 Hz, 1H), 4.64 (d, J = 3.6 Hz, 1H), 4.54~4.49 (m, 1H),1.52 (s, 3H), 1.29 (t, 6H); 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) δ: 165.3, 133.3, 129.7, 129.4, 129.4, 128.5, 128.5, 111.6, 104.6, 83.9, 78.0, 76.9, 75.2, 26.6, 26.1, 13.3; MS (ESI) m/z 279.2 [M + H]+.

3.6. Synthesis of 5-Deoxy-3-O-benzoyl-1,2-O-diacetate-D-xylofuranose 3

5-Deoxy-3-O-benzoyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-D-xylofuranose 9 (7.15 g, 25.7 mmol) was dissolved in AcOH (130 mL) and Ac2O (150 mL). Concentrated H2SO4 (7.5 mL) was added dropwise. The solution was stirred at room temperature for 26 h. The solution was poured into H2O (500 mL) and extracted with DCM (3 × 100 mL). The combined organic layer was washed with H2O (3 × 50 mL), sat. NaHCO3 (3 × 50 mL) and brine (50 mL), then dried with anhydrous Na2SO4. After filtration, the resulting solution was evaporated under reduced pressure to afford 10 (6.5 g, 78%) as anomers. It was used directly without further purification.

3.7. Vorbrüggen Glycosylation of 5′-Deoxy-1,2,3-tri-O-acetyl-β-D-xylofuranose 5 and 5-Iodo-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine 10

To a suspension of 4-chloro-5-iodo-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine 4 (23.9 g, 85.5 mmoL) in dry MeCN (350 mL) was added BSA (20.9 g, 25 mL, 103 mmol) and stirred for 10 min at room temperature. After addition of 5-deoxy-3-O-benzoyl-1,2-O-diacetate-D-xylofuranose 3 (27.5 g, 85.5 mmol), TMSOTf (19.0 g, 15.5 mL, 85.5 mmol) was added to the mixture. The mixture was stirred for 15 min before heating to 80 °C for 12 h. The reaction was cooled to room temperature. Water (400 mL) was added to quench the reaction. The solution was extracted with EtOAc (300 mL × 3). The combined organic layer was washed with sat. NaHCO3 (350 mL × 1) and brine (350 mL × 2), and dried with anhydrous Na2SO4, filtered and evaporated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified over a silica gel column (CH2Cl2–EtOAc, 25:1) to afford 10 (26 g, 56%). mp 136–137 °C;1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO): δ 8.61 (s, 1H), 8.01 (d, 2H, J = 8.4 Hz), 7.79 (s, 1H), 7.63 (t, 1H, J = 6.8 Hz), 7.55 (d, 2H, J = 7.6 Hz), 6.44 (s, 1H), 5.56 (s, 1H), 5.47 (s, 1H), 4.63 (m, 1H), 2.19 (s, 3H), 1.43 (d, 3H, J = 6.4 Hz). 13C NMR (100 MHz, DMSO): δ 169.1, 165.0, 152.8, 151.2, 150.5, 133.9, 133.4, 132.0, 129.8, 129.0, 128.5, 117.4, 87.8, 81.3, 78.4, 76.8, 76.6, 52.8, 20.6, 14.6; MS (ESI) m/z 542.2 [M + H]+; HRMS (ESI) m/z calcd for [M + H]+ C20H18IClN3O5: 541.9974, found: 541.9968.

3.8. Synthesis of 4-Amino-7-(5′-deoxy-β-D-xylofuranosyl)-5-iodo-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine 1

A solution of 10 (18.2 g, 33.6 mmol) in methanolic ammonia (saturated with NH3 at 0 °C for 2 h, 200 mL) was placed in an autoclave and stirred at 130 °C for 12 h. After cooling, the mixture was concentrated to dryness and the residue was purified over a silica gel column (CH2Cl2–CH3OH, 20:1) to afford 1 (10.3 g, 82%) as yellow powder. mp 190-191 °C; [α]25D −68 (c 0.1, CH3OH); CD: λext 240 nm (∆ε −2.6) and λext 209 nm (∆ε −4.4);1H NMR (400 Hz, DMSO): δ 8.11 (s, 1H, H-2), 7.60 (s, 1H, H-6), 6.73 (brs, 2H, NH2), 5.96 (d, 1H, J = 1.8 Hz, H-1′), 5.82 (d, 1H, J = 3.6 Hz, OH-2′), 5.69 (d, 1H, J = 4.3 Hz, OH-3′), 4.21 (m, 1H, H-4′), 4.12 (dd, 1H, J = 1.8, 3.6 Hz, H-2′), 3.81(dd, 1H, J = 3.6, 4.3 Hz, H-3′), 1.21 (d, 3H, J = 6.6 Hz, H-5′); 13C NMR (100 Hz, DMSO): δ 157.6 (C-4), 152.3 (C-2), 150.0 (C-8), 128.6 (C-6), 103.4 (C-9), 89.8 (C-1′), 82.4 (C-2′), 78.4 (C-4′), 77.0 (C-3′), 51.8 (C-5), 14.4 (C-5′); HRMS (ESI) m/z calcd for [M + H]+ C11H14IN4O3: 377.0105, found: 377.0098.

4. Conclusions

In conclusion, a practical and efficient approach for 10 g scale synthesis of marine nucleoside 4-amino-7-(5′-deoxy-β-D-xylofuranosyl)-5-iodo-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine 1 was developed on the basis of Vorbrüggen glycosylation. It has the merits of cost efficiency, mild reaction conditions, and easy access to diversity-oriented derivatives. We are currently in the process of applying this approach to other 4-amino-7-(5′-deoxy-β-D-xylofuranosyl)-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives and studying their biological activities, such as insecticides, which will be reported in due course.