The hydroxide-catalyzed hydrolysis of aryl 1,2-trans-glycosides proceeds through a mechanism involving neighboring group participation by a C2-oxyanion and rate-limiting formation of a 1,2-anhydro sugar (oxirane) intermediate. The transition state for the hydroxide-catalyzed hydrolysis of 4-nitrophenyl α-d-mannopyranoside in aqueous media has been studied by the use of multiple kinetic isotope effect (KIE) measurements in conjunction with ab initio theoretical methods. The experimental KIEs are C1-H (1.112 ± 0.004), C2-H (1.045 ± 0.005), anomeric 1-C (1.026 ± 0.006), C2-C (0.999 ± 0.005), leaving group oxygen 2-O (1.040 ± 0.012), and C2-O (1.044 ± 0.006). The transition state for the hydrolysis reaction was modeled computationally using the experimental KIE values as constraints. Taken together, the reported kinetic isotope effects and computational modeling are consistent with the reaction mechanism involving rate-limiting formation of a transient oxirane intermediate that opens in water to give α-d-mannopyranose. The transition state has significant nucleophilic participation by the C2-alkoxide, an essentially cleaved glycosidic bond, and a slight shortening of the endocyclic C1-O5 bond. The TS is late, consistent with the large, normal C2-O isotope effect.

Mechanism-based glycoside hydrolase inhibitors are carbohydrate analogs that mimic the natural substrate’s structure. Their covalent bond formation with the glycoside hydrolase makes these compounds excellent tools for chemical biology and potential drug candidates. Here we report the synthesis of cyclohexene-based α-galactopyranoside mimics and the kinetic and structural characterization of their inhibitory activity toward an α-galactosidase from Thermotoga maritima (TmGalA). By solving the structures of several enzyme-bound species during mechanism-based covalent inhibition of TmGalA, we show that the Michaelis complexes for intact inhibitor and product have half-chair (2H3) conformations for the cyclohexene fragment, while the covalently linked intermediate adopts a flattened half-chair (2H3) conformation. Hybrid QM/MM calculations confirm the structural and electronic properties of the enzyme-bound species and provide insight into key interactions in the enzyme-active site. These insights should stimulate the design of mechanism-based glycoside hydrolase inhibitors with tailored chemical properties.

Positive charge stabilized on remote C5-allylic center with catalysis occurring via a loose SN2 transition state.

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