Analysis of linkage positions in a polysaccharide containing nonreducing, terminal alpha-D-glucopyranosyluronic groups by the reductive-cleavage method.
The fate of terminal (nonreducing) alpha-D-glucopyranosyluronic groups under reductive cleavage conditions was investigated by using the Klebsiella K2 (strain NCTC-418) capsular polysaccharide. Treatment of the fully methylated polysaccharide (1) with triethylsilane and a mixture of trimethylsilyl methanesulfonate (Me3SiOSO2CH3) and boron trifluoride etherate (BF3.Et2O) as the catalyst, resulted in complete cleavage of all glycosidic linkages to yield the expected products, namely 3-O-acetyl-1,5-anhydro-2,4,6-tri-O-methyl-D-glucitol (2), 3,4-di-O-acetyl-1,5-anhydro-2,6-di-O-methyl-D-mannitol (3), 4-O-acetyl-1,5-anhydro-2,3,6-tri-O-methyl-D-glucitol (4), and methyl 2,6-anhydro-3,4,5-tri-O-methyl-L-gulonate. Treatment of 1 with trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (Me3SiOSO2CF3) as the catalyst resulted in incomplete cleavage of the glycosidic linkage of the methylated D-glucopyranosyluronic group, to yield 4-O-acetyl-1,5-anhydro-2,6-di-O-methyl- 3-O-(methyl2,3,4-tri-O-methyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyluronate )-D-mannitol (9). Reductive cleavage of 1 in the presence of BF3.Et2O resulted in incomplete cleavage of all glycosidic linkages and gave rise to all four dimers (including 9) that could be formed from a tetrasaccharide repeating unit. The proposed structures of these dimers are based upon their composition, as established by chemical ionization mass spectrometry and by the reported structure of the polysaccharide. A small proportion of 1,5-anhydro-2,4,6-tri-O-methyl-3-O-(methyl 2,3,4-tri-O-methyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyluronate)-D-mannitol (12) was also detected in the products of the BF3.Et2O-catalyzed reductive cleavage. The presence of 12 is chemical evidence for the phase of the tetrasaccharide repeating unit in the polysaccharide. The reductive cleavage of 1 was also accomplished after reduction of its ester groups with lithium aluminum hydride. Complete cleavage of all glycosidic linkages was observed when either Me3SiOSO2CF3 or Me3SiOSO2CH3-BF3.Et2O was used to catalyze reductive cleavage, and anhydroalditols 2, 3, 4, and 6-O-acetyl-1,5-anhydro-2,3,4-tri-O-methyl-D-glucitol were produced, as expected.
Vodonik
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SA
Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455.
Gray
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GR
D002236:Carbohydrate Conformation; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D005965:Glucuronates / Q000032:analysis*; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D007709:Klebsiella / Q000276:immunology; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008745:Methylation; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial
D005965:Glucuronates; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D020723:Glucuronic Acid