Synthesis of monodeoxy analogues of the trisaccharide α-D-Glcp-(1→3)-α-D-Manp-(1→2)-α-D-Manp

In this thesis, the syntheses of oligosaccharides for interaction studies with various lectins are described. The first section reports the syntheses of tetra, tri- and disaccharides corresponding to truncated versions of the glucosylated arm of Glc1Man9(GlcNAc)2, found in the biosynthesis of N-glycans. The thermodynamic parameters of their interaction with calreticulin, a lectin assisting and promoting the correct folding of newly synthesised glycoproteins, were established by isothermal titration calorimetry. In the second section, a new synthetic pathway leading to the same tetra- and trisaccharides is discussed. Adoption of a convergent strategy and of a different protecting group pattern resulted in significantly increased yields of the target structures. The third section describes the syntheses of a number of monodeoxy-trisaccharides related to the above trisaccharide Glc-α-(1→3)-Man-α-(1→2)-Man-α-OMe. Differentsynthetic approaches were explored and the choice of early introduction of the deoxy functionality proved the most beneficial. In the last section, the synthesis of spacer-linked LacNAc dimers as substrates for the lectins galectin-1 and -3 is presented. This synthesis was realized by glycosidation of a number diols with peracetylated LacNAc-oxazoline. Pyridinium triflate was tested as a new promoter, affording the target dimers in high yields. This promoter in combination with microwave irradiation gave even higher yields and also shortened the reaction times.