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S V Ley

Publications and source records attributed to S V Ley.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Solid-supported reagents for multi-step organic synthesis: preparation and application.

Since the early days of combinatorial chemistry solid-phase organic synthesis has been the method of choice for the production of large libraries. Solution-phase synthesis is again gaining importance especially for the synthesis of parallel arrays of smaller, focussed libraries containing single compounds with high degrees of purity. In the field of solution-phase library generation, the use of solid-supported reagents, catalysts and scavengers is emerging as a leading strategy, combining the advantages of both solid-phase organic synthesis (e.g. allowing the employment of an excess of reagent without the need for additional purification steps) and solution-phase chemistry (e.g. the ease of monitoring the progress of the reactions by applying LC-MS, TLC or standard NMR techniques). An account of some of the most recent advances in this area of research will be presented.

Combinatorial Chemistry Techniques↗
PubMed2001

Highly diastereoselective lithium enolate aldol reactions of butane-2,3-diacetal desymmetrized glycolic acid and deprotection to enantiopure anti-2,3-dihydroxy esters.

[reaction--see text] The butane-2,3-diacetal (BDA) desymmetrized glycolic acid building block 1 undergoes efficient and highly diastereoselective lithium enolate aldol reactions with both aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes to afford, after an acidic methanolysis deprotection step, the enantiopure anti-2,3-dihydroxy esters in good yield.

Acetals↗
PubMed2001

Highly diastereoselective Michael addition reactions of butane-2,3-diacetal desymmetrized glycolic acid. Preparation of alpha-hydroxy-gamma-amino acid derivatives.

[reaction--see text] The butane-2,3-diacetal (BDA) desymmetrized glycolic acid building block undergoes efficient and highly diastereoselective lithium enolate Michael additions to alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones, lactones, and nitro olefins. Subsequent deprotection of these Michael adducts gives alpha-hydroxy acids in very high yield. Hydrogenation of the nitro group in some of the adducts leads to gamma-lactams, which can be easily converted into alpha-hydroxy-gamma-amino acid derivatives.

Acetals↗
PubMed2001

Both mosquito-derived xanthurenic acid and a host blood-derived factor regulate gametogenesis of Plasmodium in the midgut of the mosquito.

Gametogenesis of Plasmodium in vitro can be induced by the combined stimulus of a 5 degrees C fall in temperature and the presence of xanthurenic acid (XA). In-vitro experiments showed that P. gallinaceum (EC(50)=80 nM) is much more sensitive to XA than P. berghei (9 microM), P. yoelii (8 microM), and P. falciparum (2 microM). However, in the mosquito vector, we do not know whether the temperature shift and XA are the only gametocyte-activating factors (GAF), nor do we know with certainty the true source(s) of XA in the mosquito blood meal. Previous studies indicate that XA is the only source of GAF in the mosquito. By defining, and then contrasting, the ability of an XA-deficient mutant of Aedes aegypti, with the wild-type mosquito to support exflagellation and ookinete formation in vivo, we determined the roles of parasite-, mosquito- and host blood-derived GAF in the regulation of gametogenesis of P. gallinaceum. Removal of both host and vector sources of GAF totally inhibited both exflagellation and ookinete production, whilst the lack of either single source resulted in only a partial reduction of exflagellation and ookinete formation in the mosquito gut. Both sources can be effectively replaced/substituted by synthetic XA. This suggests (1) both mosquito- and vertebrate-derived factors act as GAF in the mosquito gut in vivo; (2) the parasite itself is unable to produce any significant GAF activity. Studies are underway to determine whether vertebrate-derived GAF is XA. These data may form the basis of further studies of the development of new methods of interrupting malarial transmission.

Aedes↗
PubMed2000

A short stereoselective total synthesis of the fusarium toxin equisetin.

A short stereoselective synthesis of the fusarium toxin equisetin, an N-methylserine-derived acyl tetramic acid and potent inhibitor of HIV-1 integrase enzyme, is described using as the key step a stereoselective lithium perchlorate mediated intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction of a fully conjugated E,E,E-triene with a trisubstituted gamma,delta-unsaturated beta-ketothioester.

Acetylation↗
PubMed2000

Synthesis of high-mannose type neoglycolipids: active targeting of liposomes to macrophages in gene therapy.

The concise synthesis of five biantennary oligomannose neoglycolipids is presented. Employing a strategy based on the principles of reactivity tuning and orthogonal activation, the oligomannose moieties, isolated from the glycoprotein 63 of the parasite Leishmania mexicana amazonensis, were rapidly assembled taking advantage of common structural motifs found in these N-glycans. Deprotection of all structures was achieved in high yield by hydrogenolysis. The deprotected glycoconjugates were subsequently coupled to a cholesteroldiamine derivative using diethylsquarate as a linker. The resulting neoglycolipids will be used as additives to cationic liposome formulations in the active targeting of liposomes to macrophages.

Carbohydrate Sequence↗
PubMed2000

1,2-Diacetals in synthesis: total synthesis of a glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor of Trypanosoma brucei.

A full account on a total synthesis of GPI anchor 1 employing butanediacetal (BDA) groups and a chiral bis(dihydropyran) is presented. The reactivity of selenium and thio glycosides was tuned by the use of BDA groups. This allowed the assembly of an appropriately protected GPI anchor precursor 2 in just six steps from the six building blocks 5-10 including only one protecting group manipulation. myo-Inositol was desymmetrised with the bis(dihydropyran) derivative 15 and appropriately protected to give inositol acceptor 21 in nine steps and 17% overall yield. The use of common starting materials and BDA-protections give efficient access to building blocks 5, 6, 7 and 8. A new and improved synthesis of the glucosamine donor 28 is included. In summary, a highly convergent and efficient synthesis of GPI anchor 1, which is clearly adaptable to other GPI anchors, has been reported.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Chemo-enzymatic synthesis of fluorinated sugar nucleotide: useful mechanistic probes for glycosyltransferases.

An effective procedure for the synthesis of 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-sugar nucleotides via Select fluor-mediated electrophilic fluorination of glycals with concurrent nucleophilic addition or chemo-enzymatic transformation has been developed, and the fluorinated sugar nucleotides have been used as probes for glycosyltransferases, including fucosyltransferase III, V, VI, and VII, and sialyl transferases. In general, these fluorinated sugar nucleotides act as competitive inhibitors versus sugar nucleotide substrates and form a tight complex with the glycosyltransferase.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of L-galactosylated dimeric sialyl Lewis X structures employing alpha-1,3-fucosyltransferase V.

L-Galactosylated dimeric sialyl Lewis X (SLeX) has been prepared employing a combination of chemical and enzymatic synthetic methods. GDP-L-galactose has been chemically synthesised. Enzymatic transfer of L-galactose onto the acceptor (Sia-alpha2,3-Gal-beta1,4-GlcNAc-beta1,3/6)2-Man-alpha1-OMe was achieved using the human alpha-1,3-fucosyltransferase V.

Carbohydrate Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Sexual development of malaria parasites is inhibited in vitro by the neem extract azadirachtin, and its semi-synthetic analogues.

We have shown that azadirachtin, a compound from the neem tree, Azadirachta indica, and selected semi-synthetic derivatives, block the development of the motile male malarial gamete in vitro. Changes in the hemiacetal group at position C11 in the molecule result in a loss of activity in this assay. The motility of fully formed male gametes, and other selected flagellated cells, is unaffected by azadirachtin in vitro. These findings raise the possibility of developing azadirachtin-based compounds as antimalarials with transmission-blocking potential, as well as permitting the further study of structure-activity relationships in these compounds.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Synthesis of antifeedants for insects: novel behaviour-modifying chemicals from plants.

The need to protect our food supply from predatory insect attack using more ecologically acceptable methods has led to a rapidly growing interest in behavior-modifying chemicals from natural sources. Compounds which deter insects from feeding (antifeedants) are attracting special attention owing to their potential use in integrated pest control management systems. We have been studying the synthesis of plant-derived compounds that display antifeedant properties. The aim of the work is to understand more precisely the feeding mechanisms of insects at a molecular level so as ultimately to be able to design simpler compounds capable of mimicking the activity of the natural products. Our synthetic studies on the sesquiterpenoid antifeedants, polygodial and warburganal, and on the diterpenoid clerodane, ajurgarin I, have shown the promise of this approach. Current effort is directed towards structure-activity studies and synthesis of the extraordinarily potent antifeedant and growth-disrupting agent azadirachtin, isolated from the Neem tree, Azadirachta indica (A. Juss). This work has led to the correct structure assignment for azadirachtin and afforded many compounds for biological evaluation. It is of special significance that incorporation of the hydroxydihydrofuran portion of azadirachtin in a simple model system formed a compound with antifeedant activity comparable to that of the natural product.

Animals↗