Synthesis of 5-deoxy-β-d-galactofuranosides as tools for the characterization of β-d-galactofuranosidases Original Research Article

Derivatives of 5-deoxy-β-d-galactofuranose (5-deoxy-α-l-arabino-hexofuranose) have been synthesized starting from d-galacturonic acid. The synthesis of methyl 5-deoxy-α-l-arabino-hexofuranoside (14α) was achieved by an efficient strategy previously optimized, involving a photoinduced electron transfer (PET) deoxygenation. Compound 14α was converted into per-O-acetyl-5-deoxy-α,β-l-arabino-hexofuranoside (16), an activated precursor for glycosylation reactions. The SnCl4-promoted glycosylation of 16 led to 4-nitrophenyl (19α), and 4-methylthiophenyl 5-deoxy-α-l-arabino-hexofuranosides (20α). The oxygenated analog 4-methylphenyl 1-thio-β-d-galactofuranoside (23β) was also prepared. The 5-deoxy galactofuranosides were evaluated as inhibitors or substrates of the exo-β-d-galactofuranosidase from Penicillium fellutanum, showing that the absence of HO-5 drastically diminishes the affinity for the protein.