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The total syntheses of two fluorinated alkaloids, 6-(R)-fluoroswainsonine and 5-(R)-fluorofebrifugine, are described. Both encompass (4aS,7R,8aR)-7-fluoro-5-tosylhexahydro-4H-[1,3]dioxino[5,4-b]pyridine as a key synthon which is obtained through a further optimized palladium-catalyzed aminofluorination of alkenes with high diastereoselectivity. 6-(R)-Fluoroswainsonine is synthesized from the key synthon in 14 steps, and 5-(R)-fluorofebrifugine requires a sequential 15-step transformation.

Ring closure of a 3,5-di-O-triflate derived from D-altrose with benzylamine allowed the formation of both monocyclic and bicyclic azetidine analogues of swainsonine.

The asymmetric synthesis of (-)-swainsonine and (-)-8-epi-swainsonine is reported through the addition of either the allenylzinc or the allenyl lithio cyanocuprate reagents derived from [3-(methoxymethoxy)prop-1-ynyl]trimethylsilane to enantiopure α,β-dialkoxy N-tert-butanesulfinylimines derived from d-erythronolactone.

Golgi alpha-mannosidase II (GMII) is a key enzyme in the N-glycosylation pathway and is a potential target for cancer chemotherapy. The natural product swainsonine is a potent inhibitor of GMII. In this paper we characterize the binding of 5alpha-substituted swainsonine analogues to the soluble catalytic domain of Drosophila GMII by X-ray crystallography. These inhibitors enjoy an advantage over previously reported GMII inhibitors in that they did not significantly decrease the inhibitory potential of the swainsonine head-group. The phenyl groups of these analogues occupy a portion of the binding site not previously seen to be populated with either substrate analogues or other inhibitors and they form novel hydrophobic interactions. They displace a well-organized water cluster, but the presence of a C(10) carbonyl allows the reestablishment of important hydrogen bonds. Already approximately tenfold more active against the Golgi enzyme than the lysosomal enzyme, these inhibitors offer the potential of being extended into the N-acetylglucosamine binding site of GMII for the creation of even more potent and selective GMII inhibitors.

Retaining glycosidases operate by a two-step catalytic mechanism in which the transition states are characterized by buildup of a partial positive charge at the anomeric center. Sulfonium-ion analogues of the naturally occurring glycosidase inhibitors, swainsonine and 8-epi-lentiginosine, in which the bridgehead nitrogen atom is replaced by a sulfonium-ion, were synthesized in order to test the hypothesis that a sulfonium salt carrying a permanent positive charge would be an effective glycosidase inhibitor. Initial prediction based on computational docking indicated three plausible binding modes to Drosophila Golgi alpha-mannosidase II (dGMII), the most likely being close to that of swainsonine. Observation of the binding of di-epi-thioswainsonine and 8-epi-thiolentiginosine to dGMII from crystallographic data, however, revealed an orientation different from swainsonine in the active site. Screening these two compounds against dGMII shows that they are inhibitors with IC(50) values of 2.0 and 0.014 mM, respectively. This dramatic difference in affinity between the two compounds, which differ by only one hydroxyl group, is rationalized in terms of bound water molecules and the water molecule substructure in the active site, as identified by comparison of high resolution X-ray crystal structures of several dGMII-inhibitor complexes., (2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Locoweeds cause significant livestock poisoning and economic loss all over the world. The purpose of this study was to investigate the immune effects of locoweed toxin, swainsonine (SW) and human serum albumin (HSA) conjugate (SW-HSA), on goats. Twenty-four Sannon goats were randomly separated into immune control group (eight goats), immune poisoning group I (six goats), immune poisoning group II (six goats) and poisoning control group (four goats). Immune control group, immune poisoning groups I and II were first vaccinated with SW-HSA conjugate. The poisoning control group, immune poisoning groups I and II were then fed with 10.0 g/kg BW/day dry powder of Oxytropis kansuensis Bunge everyday morning. The immune control group was supplied with an alfalfa-based diet. Blood samples of these experimental animals were collected at different time interval. Immunoassay was performed using indirect ELISA and E-rosette technique. The results show that, after second booster immunization: (1) anti-SW antibody level in some goats increased to 2(8), which proves that SW-HSA conjugate can induce experimental animals to produce high-level anti-SW antibody in their bodies; (2) the high-level antibody in their bodies could maintain 30 days, and decreased gradually after poisoning experiment (in our experiment, there was a return of the antibody level on day 21 after poisoning experiment); (3) the decreasing of the E-rosette rate of the immune poisoning group was delayed 14 days, which suggests that SW-HSA could low down the loss of the immunity of the goats; (4) swainsonine concentration in the blood was significantly lower (p<0.01) in the immune poisoning groups than that in the poisoning control group, and there was no significant difference (p>0.01) between the two immune poisoning groups within the poisoning experiment.

Enantiopure alpha,beta-unsaturated delta-lactams 1 and 2 react stereoselectively with carbon-, nitrogen-, sulfur-, and oxygen-centered nucleophiles. The synthetic potential of these conjugate additions is demonstrated through the synthesis of two new substituted indolizidines: (7R)-7-amino-8-deoxyswainsonine 3 and (7R)-7-acetylaminoswainsonine 4.

The synthesis of a bicyclic sulfonium-ion analogue of a naturally occurring glycosidase inhibitor, swainsonine, in which the bridgehead nitrogen atom is replaced by a sulfonium ion, has been achieved by a multi-step synthesis starting from 1,4-anhydro-2,3-di-O-benzyl-4-thio-D-lyxitol. The synthetic strategy relies on the intramolecular displacement of a leaving group on a pendant acyclic chain by a cyclic thioether. This bicyclic sulfonium salt will serve as a candidate to test the hypothesis that a sulfonium salt carrying a permanent positive charge would be an effective glycosidase inhibitor.

[reaction: see text] A divergent strategy for the synthesis of diverse azabicyclic ring systems has been developed in which a chiral N-allylpyrrolidine derivative, obtained from a carbohydrate precursor was converted to (-)-8-epi-swainsonine triacetate by RCM and to a pyrrolo[1,2-a]azepine derivative and a 3-hydroxymethyl-substituted indolizidine by N-allylcarbohydrate nitrone and nitrile oxide cycloadditions.

5alpha-substituted swainsonine analogues were synthesized by Mannich reaction of an in situ generated (-)-swainsonine iminium ion intermediate. 5alpha-substituted swainsonine analogues were epimerized to their 5beta-isomers in protic solvent. [reaction: see text]

A new route for the preparation of four new indolizidines, (1R,2S,6S,7S,8aS)- and (1R,2S,6R,7R,8aS)-1,2,6,7-tetrahydroxyindolizidine (30 and 32) and (1S,2R,7S,8S,8aR)- and (1S,2R,7R,8R,8aR)-1,2,7,8-tetrahydroxyindolizidine (44 and 46), is reported. The synthesis is based on Knoevenagel homologation of the readily available enantiomerically pure pyrrolidin-carbaldehydes 13 and 37followed by asymmetric dihydroxylation of the subsequent alkenyl pyrrolidines and cyclization of the corresponding imino-octitols. The new indolizidines and their precursors (imino-octitols 20, 25, 26) and indolizidinones 28a and 28b have been tested for inhibitory activities toward 26 glycosidases. The enzymatic inhibition of trans-7-hydroxy-d-(-)-swainsonine (44) toward alpha-mannosidases is similar to that described for trans-7-hydroxy-l-(+)-swainsonine (11b) toward naringinase (alpha-l-rhamnosidase from Penicillium decumbens).

Indolizidines (-)-8-epi-swainsonine triacetate and (+)-1, 2-di-epi-swainsonine were synthesized from the O'Donnell Schiff base ester 1 derived from D-serine. Reductive-alkenylation of 1 with (i)()Bu(5)Al(2)H/H(2)C=CHMgBr followed by substrate-directed dihydroxylation of the pendant allylic group with OsO(4), reduction of imine, and cyclization with Ph(3)P/CCl(4) gave the polyhydroxylated pyrrolidines 8a and 8b as advanced intermediates. Efficient protecting group manipulations converted pyrrolidines 8a and 8b to their corresponding partially protected analogues 10a and 10b, which upon Swern oxidation and diastereoselective Keck-type allylation with BF(3).Et(2)O afforded the required three-carbon homologues (10a, >20:1 de; 10b, 3.5:1 de). Use of the chelating Lewis acid MgBr(2) instead of BF(3).Et(2)O with 10a led to a novel aza-pinacol rearrangement and allylation at the alpha-carbon to yield amino alcohol 17, which is similar to a hydride migration in the biosynthetic pathway of indolizidine alkaloids. Subsequent hydroboration, cyclization, and deprotection furnished (-)-8-epi-swainsonine triacetate 15a and (+)-1,2-di-epi-swainsonine 16b in good overall yields (6.3% for 1 --> 15a, 13 steps, and 4.0% for 1 --> 16b, 14 steps).

The potent and specific inhibitor of Golgi alpha-mannosidase II, swainsonine (SW) has been isolated in high yield from Swainsona procumbens and derivatised by regiospecific enzymatic reactions. In this study the regioselectivity of three commercially available enzymes, subtilisin Carlsberg, porcine pancreatic lipase (PPL) and Candida cylindracea lipase was determined for the acylation of swainsonine in predominantly anhydrous organic medium. The use of subtilisin in pyridine facilitated the single step synthesis of 2-O-butyryl-SW in a 23% yield, whilst catalysis by PPL in tetrahydrofuran gave 2-O-butyryl-SW (6%) and 1,2-di-O-butyryl-SW (31%).

Swainsonine (SW), a plant alkaloid and inhibitor of alpha-mannosidases, has been shown to inhibit N-linked oligosaccharide processing and to block tumor cell metastasis in mice. In this study, a series of SW analogs were chemically synthesized and compared for inhibition of complex-type N-linked oligosaccharide processing in cultured MDAY-D2 tumor cells, for inhibition of alpha-mannosidases in vitro, and for stimulation of bone marrow proliferation in vivo. Carbonoyloxy substitutions at the 2 and 8 carbons of SW reduced inhibitor activity by 2-3 orders of magnitude for Jack Bean and MDAY-D2 tumor cell lysosomal alpha-mannosidases in vitro. However, 2-p-nitrobenzoyloxy-, 2-octanoyloxy- and 2-butanoyloxy-derivatives of SW retained full activity as inhibitors of Golgi oligosaccharide processing in viable MDAY-D2 tumor cells. Inhibition of oligosaccharide processing was reduced by the esterase inhibitor diethyl p-nitrophenyl phosphate, suggesting that although 2-p-nitrobenzoyloxy-SW, 2-octanoyloxy-SW and 2-butanoyloxy-SW are relatively poor inhibitors of alpha-mannosidases in vitro, the compounds enter cells at a rate comparable to that of SW, and are converted to SW by cellular esterases. The more lipophilic esters, 2-benzoyloxy-SW, 2-toluoyloxy-SW, 8-palmitoyloxy-SW and 8-myristinoyloxy-SW, showed IC50 values at least 10 times higher for inhibition of Golgi oligosaccharide processing, probably due to less efficient entry of the compounds into tumor cells. The anti-metastatic activities of SW and two analogs were tested and shown to correlate with the IC50 values for inhibition of Golgi oligosaccharide processing in cultured tumor cells. In vivo, SW and the analogs were administered intraperitoneally to mice and found to have comparable activities as stimulators of bone marrow cell proliferation. Carbonoyloxy substitutions at the 2- or 8-position of SW with other chemical groups may lead to new drugs with improved pharmacokinetics and anti-cancer activity.