Selenosugars are
interesting targets of organic synthesis as they
would possess potential biological activities. However, 4-selenotherofuranose
derivatives, which have trans configuration for the two dihydroxy
substituents at the 2,3-positions and a glycoside bond at the anomeric
position, are not available in the current selenosugar library. In
this study, racemic 4-selenothreofuranose derivatives were synthesized
from trans-3,4-dioxygenated tetrahydroselenophenes
in 77–99% yields with the α/β selectivity about
7:3 via oxidation and subsequent seleno-Pummerer rearrangement. The
acetoxy group introduced at the anomeric position was then substituted
with various nucleophiles, including activated 6-chloropurine, which
afforded 4′-selenothreonucleoside derivatives, in the presence
of BF3·OEt2 or TMSOTf. The stereochemistry
of the selenosugar products was established by 1H NMR spectroscopy
as well as X-ray analysis. The similar α/β selectivity
observed in the latter glycosylation reaction to that in the former
seleno-Pummerer rearrangement suggested the mediation of a common
selenonium intermediate (−Se+C<). It
was also suggested that an unexpected interaction between the ester
protecting group at the 3-position of the selenofuranose ring and
the anomeric carbon atom decreases the α/β selectivity.
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