Synthesis of deoxymannojirimycin using a Ruthenium-catalysed hydrogen borrowing reaction

Abstract

1-Deoxymannojirimycin (DMJ) has been investigated as a potential anti-cancer therapy due to its specific inhibition of class I α-mannosidase enzymes, which has been shown to trigger ER stress and the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) pathway, leading to apoptosis in human hepatocarcinoma cells. Current methods for the synthesis of DMJ consist of multiple steps and often result in poor yields. The objectives of this research project were to develop a scale-up suitable synthesis of deoxymannojirimycin (DMJ), and to assess the feasibility of telescoping key-reactions to reduce the number of unit operations. Synthetic efforts focused on the key conversion of 1 to 2 have previously involved separate oxidation and reduction steps. In our laboratory; attempts to use hydrogen-borrowing chemistry had taken >48hr and not been achieved in high yield. The highlights of this work were that this conversion was ultimately realised in 95% yield in 24hr, and that the final deprotection of (2) could be telescoped into the process removing reaction-workup and chromatographic steps. The ruthenium catalyst used in the hydrogen borrowing reaction was found to be extremely air-sensitive, with reactions taking place in carefully prepared reaction vessels under an atmosphere of dry argon gas. The catalyst was also found to exhibit sensitivities to materials such as metal needles and polymer tubing, preventing sampling and monitoring of the reaction during synthesis. This study demonstrated that a one-pot synthesis is feasible,compressing the final steps in the synthesis of DMJ in excellent yield. The difficulty arises from the sensitive nature of the ruthenium catalyst, and the extreme care required in the preparation of the glassware and reagents used in synthesis. Many aspects of this development require further investigation, including the sampling, monitoring and quality control of each synthetic step.