No description available.

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A (eIF5A) is the only known protein to contain hypusine, formed by post-translational modification of a highly conserved lysine residue. Hypusination is essential for eIF5A function, being required for binding of a specific subset of mRNAs necessary for progression of eukaryotic cells through the G1-S checkpoint. Little structural information is available for eIF5A other than that derived from archaeal homologues. The aim of this study was to conduct structure-function studies on Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) eIF5A, encoded by TIF51A. Homology models of eIF5A were generated from the Methanococcus jannaschii archaeal homologue (aIF5A) and two Leishmania eIF5As. The models, along with secondary structure predictions identified an a-helix on the C-terminal domain, unique to eukaryote eIF5A. The Neurospora crassa structural analogue, HEX-1, which dimerises in three configurations, was used to generate similar dimeric model configurations of eIF5A. A biochemical and functional analysis was used to validate the homology models of eIF5A.Since the crystal structures of aIF5A and eIF5A were solved from unhypusinated protein produced in Escherichia coli, 6 x His-tagged eIF5A (His-eIF5A) was used for biochemical analysis. This analysis revealed that eIF5A existed as a dimer in solution, dependent on the presence of the highly conserved Cys 39 residue. A yeast TIF51A/TIF51B null yeast strain, with a chromosomal copy of TIF51A under control of PGAL1, was used to confirm that HiseIF5A and selected eIF5A mutants were functional in vivo. Biochemical analysis showed that hypusinated His-eIF5A also exists as a dimer, but neither the dimerisation, nor the function of eIF5A are dependent on the presence of Cys 39. Rather they depend on the presence of hypusine (Hpu) 51 and the presence of RNA leading to the conclusion that RNA and hypusine are required for dimerisation and hence function, of native eIF5A in vivo. In contrast, a Lys 51 to Arg 51 substitution or RNase treatment of His-eIF5A produced in E. coli did not destabilize the dimeric form, suggesting different folding/dimerisation mechanisms in E. coli and yeast cells. The information obtained from the initial homology models, together with the results of the biochemical analysis was used to propose a mechanism for dimerisation of yeast eIF5A involving both hypusine and RNA.

Contemporary developments in the field of synthetic peptide methodologies are imperative for enabling the advance of drug design in medicinal chemistry. Although many groundbreaking discoveries have been made in this field in the past few decades, there has only been a recent renaissance in transition metal catalyzed methods which create unnatural amino acids and generate macrocyclic peptide structures. Rh(III)-catalyzed methods which install C-C bonds and C-N bonds across readily available alkene substrates have been an underexplored avenue for peptide modification chemistry. In this thesis, several novel catalytic methodologies are disclosed which simultaneously install unnatural amino acid motifs during peptide ligation events. In Chapter 3, we report a modular peptide ligation methodology that couples dioxazolones, arylboronic acids, and acrylamides to construct amide bonds in a diastereoselective manner under mild conditions, facilitated by Rh(III) catalysis. In Chapter 4, we disclose a Rh(III)-catalyzed macrocyclization via carboamidation, reacting acryloyl-peptide-dioxazolone precursors and arylboronic acids to form complex cyclic peptides with concomitant incorporation of noncanonical α-amino acids. In Chapter 5, we describe ongoing efforts to develop a complementary Rh(III)-catalyzed hydroamidation reaction which furnishes macrocyclic peptides to expand the chemical space in which complex peptidomimetic molecules can be attained.

M. Tech (Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Applied and Computer Sciences) Vaal University of Technology. / Quantum dots (QDs) have already proven features that can be considered to improve their properties for biological applications. Metal selenide nanoparticles possess semiconducting behaviors that can vary with structural and optical properties evolving from their synthesis. An aqueous medium through a simple, non-toxic and environmentally friendly colloidal route for the preparation of water-soluble CdSe, Cu2Se, FeSe semiconductor nanoparticles has been developed. Different capping molecules with multi-functional moieties (-COOH, -NH2 and -OH) namely, L-cysteine, L-glutamic acid and L-phenylalanine, have been employed in the preparation of cadmium selenide, copper selenide and iron selenide semiconductor nanoparticles as capping molecules. The synthesized metal selenide nanoparticles were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), UV-Vis spectroscopy, Photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the binding moiety through the surface of the nanoparticles which is pH dependent. The XRD patterns confirmed a cubic phase of CdSe and Cu2Se while FeSe revealed a hexagonal phase for the synthesized nanoparticles. The optical absorption as a function of wavelength for the prepared nanoparticles at different temperature is investigated. The morphology of the nanoparticles dominated through this method was spherical in shape. Amino acids capped metal selenide nanoparticles were successfully synthesized by aqueous medium through a simple colloidal route. The absorption spectra of all samples prepared were blue shifted as compared to their bulk counterparts which signify quantum confinement effect. The optical absorption measurements show some dependency of the temperature values used in the synthesis of nanoparticles. The effect of temperature and pH on the growth and morphology of nanoparticles was investigated. X-ray diffraction patterns confirms the structure, single cubic and hexagonal phase for the synthesized nanoparticles. TEM studies of metal selenide nanoparticle show that particle size increases with the increase in reaction temperature. The vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) shows almost linear without any hysteresis loop for copper selenide, which indicated the absence of magnetism and exhibits paramagnetic nature than diamagnetic properties while iron selenide revealed twofold ferromagnetic behavior in low fields and paramagnetic behavior in up fields.

Thesis (M.Tech.: Chemistry)-Dept. of Chemistry, Durban Institute of Technology, 2003 ix, 70 leaves + 1 computer laser optical disc / The purpose of this study is to utilize computational techniques in the determination of the mechanistic pathways for the one-pot conversion of a pentacyclo-undecane (PCU) dione 1.1 to a pentacyclo-undecane cage lactam 1.2.

Thesis (M.Tech.: Chemistry)-Dept. of Chemistry, Durban Institute of Technology, 2003 ix, 70 leaves + 1 computer laser optical disc / The purpose of this study is to utilize computational techniques in the determination of the mechanistic pathways for the one-pot conversion of a pentacyclo-undecane (PCU) dione 1.1 to a pentacyclo-undecane cage lactam 1.2.

Chapter I deals with novel approaches for α-amino acids. This chapter has been divided into three sections. Section A describes the synthesis of α-amino acids via the Beckmann rearrangement of carboxyl-protected β-keto acid oximes. The synthesis of α-amino acids using the Beckmann rearrangement involves the preparation of the Z-oxime and efficient protection of the carboxyl group. Various 2-substituted benzoylacetic acids were synthesized, in which the carboxyl function was masked as a 2,4,10-trioxaadamantane unit (an orthoacetate), and were converted to their oximes (Scheme 1).1 The oximes were converted to the their mesylates, which underwent the Beckmann rearrangement with basic Al2O3 in refluxing CHCl3. The corresponding 2-substituted-N-benzoyl-α-amino orthoacetates were obtained in excellent overall yields. In Section B, the synthesis of α-amino acids via the Hofmann rearrangement of carboxyl-protected malonamic acids is described. The Hofmann rearrangement involves the migration of the alkyl moiety of the amide onto the N-centre. Various 2-substituted malonamic acids (malonic acid mono amides) were synthesized with the carboxyl group masked as a 2,4,10¬trioxaadamantane unit (an orthoacetate). These underwent the Hofmann rearrangement with phenyliodoso acetate and KOH/MeOH (Scheme 2). The resulting (N-methoxycarbonyl)¬trioxaadmantylmethylamines (carbamates) were formed in yields > 90%, and are α-amino acids with both carboxyl and amino protection.2 In Section C, an approach to chiral amino acids via the reductive amination of ketones, involving the hydride reduction of 1-(S)-phenethyl amine derived Schiff bases of C-protected α¬keto acids is described. An efficient synthesis of α-amino acids has thus been developed in high diastereoselectivity. Various 1-acyl-2,4,10-trioxaadamantanes were prepared from the corresponding 1-methoxycarbonyl derivatives, via conversion to the N-acylpiperidine derivative followed by reaction with a Grignard reagent in refluxing THF (Scheme 3). These α-keto orthoformates were converted to corresponding imines with 1-(S)-phenethyl amine (TiCl4/Et3N/toluene/reflux), the Schiff bases being reduced with NaBH4 (MeOH/0 °C) to the corresponding 1-(S)-phenethyl N-alkylamines (diastereomeric excess by NMR ~ 90:10).3 Hydrogenolysis of the phenethyl group (Pd-C/H2/MeOH) finally led to the (aminoalkyl)trioxaadamantanes, which are chiral C-protected α-amino acids, in excellent overall yields. Here a mild, inexpensive and efficient hydride reducing agent for the reductive amination of α-keto acids has been developed. Chapter II deals with the enantioselective synthesis of piperidines and its applications in the synthesis of piperidine alkaloids.4 This chapter has been divided into two sections. In Section A, the enantioselective synthesis of 2-substituted piperidines and its applications in the synthesis of (R)-(-)-coniine and (R)-(+)-anatabine are described. Various N-tert-butylsulfinyl imines were synthesized, which upon allyl Grignard addition followed by N-allylation gave the diallyl compound with good diastereoselectivity (Scheme 4). The diallyl compound underwent ring closing metathesis with Grubbs’ first generation catalyst and subsequent reduction of the double bond with H2-Pd/C, furnished N-sulfinyl-2-susbstituted piperidines. Using this methodology (R)¬(-)-coniine hydrochloride and (R)-(+)-anatabine were synthesized. In Section B, the enantioselective synthesis of (S)-tert-butyl 2-(2¬hydroxyethyl)piperidine-1-carboxylate and its elaboration to the synthesis of (S)-(+)-δ-coniceine and (S)-(+)-pelletierine are described. The (S)-tert-butyl 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperidine-1¬carboxylate is a synthon used for the synthesis of various 2-substituted piperidine natural products. Using the above methodology (S)-tert-butyl 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperidine-1¬carboxylate was synthesized starting from (S)-(+)-2-methyl-2-propanesulfinamide and 3¬(benzyloxy)propanal (Scheme 5). This alcohol was further elaborated to furnish two piperidine alkaloids (S)-(+)-pelletierine and (S)-(+)-δ-coniceine. Scheme 5. Enantioselective synthesis of (S)-tert-butyl 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperidine-1¬carboxylate, (S)-(+)-pelletierine and (S)-(+)-δ-coniceine. Chapter III deals with the formation of barbituric acid in an aprotic medium and related mechanistic studies. The generally accepted mechanism for the formation of barbituric acid involves the nucleophilic attack of urea anion on diethyl malonate.5 This is debatable for at least two reasons: (1) the normally employed base, sodium ethoxide, is too weak to deprotonate urea and (2) diethyl malonate is more acidic than urea, so the initial deprotonation by base has to be from diethyl malonate. When diethyl malonate (DEM) enolate was treated with urea in DMF, barbituric acid was formed in 61% yield. The reaction was also extended to several 2-substituted DEM derivatives, the corresponding substituted barbituric acids being formed in reasonable yields. The reaction between diethyl 2-(ethoxycarbonyl)malonate and urea, with potassium carbonate in refluxing ethanol, led to the formation of barbituric acid. This is apparently facilitated by hydrogen bonding involving the enolate oxygen atom, which renders one of the carbonyl groups relatively electrophilic (Scheme 6). Meldrum’s acid failed to react with urea, despite its greater acidity, indicating that the reaction requires the formation of the E from of the s-trans enolate ion, in which the hydrogen bonding interaction and nucleophilic attack can occur in concert. Scheme 6. Proposed transition state for formation of Barbituric acid. Chapter IV deals with an improved Erlenmeyer synthesis with 5-thiazolone and catalytic manganese (II) acetate for aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes. A serious limitation to the classical Erlenmeyer reaction is that it generally fails in the case of aliphatic aldehydes. This chapter describes a convenient approach to this problem that extends the scope of the Erlenmeyer synthesis. The present study was aimed at developing milder conditions for the synthesis of 4¬arylidene and alkylidenethioazlactones. Thus, N-(thiobenzoyl)glycine was treated with DCC in DCM at room temperature for 10 min., according to a reported procedure, to form the thioazlactone.6 The same reaction mixture was treated with catalytic Mn(II) acetate and an equivalent of an aromatic aldehyde, to furnish the corresponding 4-arylidenethioazlactones in good yields. The scope of the reaction was extended to alphatic aldehydes also under similar reaction conditions, to obtain the 4-alkylidene thioazlactones in good to moderate yields (Scheme 7). Scheme 7. The Erlenmeyer synthesis with 5-thiazolone and manganese acetate. (for figures & structural formula pl refer pdf file)

PART I RESOLUTION AND DESYMMETRISATION Chapter I. ‘A Novel Racemate Resolution’. This describes a novel resolution strategy as applied to racemic α-amino acids in the solid state. The strategy is based on the possibility that second order asymmetric transformations (SOAT) would be more likely in the case of achiral molecules that form chiral crystals (i.e. a non- centrosymmetric space group).1 In such cases, a fundamental requirement of SOAT – that the molecules racemise in solution prior to crystallization – is obviated. Furthermore, the resulting enantiomerically-enriched crystals may be employed to effect a solid-state kinetic resolution of a different racemate (composed of chiral molecules). This strategy was explored with crystalline succinic anhydride (1, Scheme 1), which not only exists in a non-centrosymmetric space group (P212121) but also possesses reactive functionality to effect the resolution step.2 Thus, a finely-ground mixture of 1 (0.5 eqiv.) and a racemic α-amino acid (2, 1.0 eqiv.) was heated at ~ 70 oC over ~ 5 h without solvent. The resulting N-succinoyl derivative (3) was separated from the unreacted 2, which was found to possess significant levels of optical purity (typically ~ 70%). The strategy was applied to several common α-amino acids, the results being summarized in Table 1. These results, apart from establishing ‘proof-of-concept’ and the viability of the resolution strategy, indicate that crystalline succinic anhydride (1) is enantiomerically enriched as originally hypothesized. Chapter II. ‘Enantiospecific Alkylation and Desymmetrisations’. This deals with two enolate-mediated strategies of asymmetric synthesis: one describes approaches towards the alkylation of the stereogenic centre in benzoin without loss of stereogenicity (Section A), and the other the desymmetrisation of a meso tartarate derivative with a chiral base catalyst (Section B). Section A. This describes exploratory studies aimed at achieving the enantiospecific α-alkylation of optically-active benzoin (4, Scheme 2) via its enolate anion 5. The strategy depends on the possibility that 5 would exist in atropisomeric forms, because of steric interactions between the vicinal phenyl groups. (This is indicated in the crystal structure of the analogous enediol carbonate derived from racemic 4.)3 In such a case, remarkably, 5 would be chiral, despite its planar enediolate core! Thus, possibly, the configurational chirality in 4 (by virtue of the C2 stereogenic centre) would be transformed to the helical chirality in 5 (by virtue of the atropisomerism). Furthermore, enantioface-selective alkylation of 5 with achiral alkylating agents would, in principle, be possible. Preliminary studies were then directed towards establishing that controlled deprotonation of optically-active 4, followed by the protonation of the resulting enediolate 5, leads back to the original 4. (+)-Benzoin (4) was prepared via resolution,4 and deprotonated with KH in THF.5 The resulting enediolate (5) was neutralized with acetic acid at -70 oC/THF to recover 4, but with insignificant levels of optical activity (e.e. ~ 12%). The results possibly indicate that ortho-substituted benzoin analogs may show greater retention of chirality upon deprotonation, as the racemisation of the enediolate atropisomers would be suppressed by steric hindrance between the aryl moities. Section B. This describes studies directed towards the catalytic desymmetrisation of meso dimethyl tartarate (6, Scheme 3). The strategy involves the formation of the acetonide derivative 7 and its regioselective α-deprotonation with a chiral base catalyst. The enantioface-selective protonation of the resulting enolate (8) would lead to the chiral analog 9. The overall sequence offers a possible alternative to catalytic deracemisation, which is normally unviable for thermodynamic reasons.6 The above strategy hinges on the meso derivative 7 being thermodynamically less stable than the enantiomeric 9, which would thus be favoured at equilibrium. In fact, this is likely as the eclipsing interactions between the syn ester moieties in 7 would be relieved in 9, in which the ester moieties are anti. However, deprotonation of 7 at the other α position would compete to varying extents, depending on the selectivity induced by the chiral base. At total equilibrium, the sequence would occur via deprotonation at both α sites at equal rates, and no net optical induction would be observed. (This is a thermodynamic requirement via the principle of microscopic reversibility.) Thus, the success of the above strategy depends on stalling the deprotonation-protonation sequence at a quasi-equilibrium stage involving only one of the enantiomers (9).6 The other operational requirement was the compatibility of the pKa’s of 7 and the chiral base employed: too low a pKa of the base would result in inefficient deprotonation and slow overall rate, but a high pKa would generate a large quantity of the enolate 8 at equilibrium. After due consideration, the lithiated chiral fluorene derivative 11 (pKa ~ 22) was chosen as the chiral base catalyst [11 was prepared from fluorene (10) as indicated]. Treating 7 with 0.2 equivalent of 10 in THF at -65 oC over 2 h, led to the formation of a mixture of 7 and 9 in a 45:55 ratio (isolated in 85% total yield). Chromatographic separation of the mixture led to the isolation of pure (+)-9, which was identified spectrally; it was found to possess [α]D24 = +21.84 (c 1.0, CHCl3), corresponding to e.e. = 64%. (This implies the indicated (4S, 5S) configuration for 1, 3-dioxolane 9, as previously reported.)7 These results, despite the moderate e.e. levels obtained, indicate the viability of the above catalytic desymmetrisation strategy, bearing in mind the mechanistic ambiguities mentioned above. PART II SYNTHESES OF ALDEHYDES AND AMINO ACIDS Chapter III. ‘An Asymmetric Synthesis of Aldehydes’. This describes an oxazoline approach to the synthesis of chiral aldehydes. The oxazoline methodology for the synthesis of homochiral α-alkylated carboxylic acids is well known,8 and it was of interest to adapt this to the synthesis of the corresponding aldehydes. Essentially, it was envisaged that the reaction sequence could be diverted towards aldehydes via reduction of the alkylated oxazoline intermediate (Scheme 4). Thus, 2-ethyl-4(S)-methoxymethyl-5(R)-phenyl-1,3-oxazoline (12) was deprotonated with lithium diisopropylamide in THF, and the resulting anion treated with various alkyl halides, in the reported manner.8 The resulting alkylated product (13) was N-methylated with MeI in refluxing MeNO2 over 6 h, to obtain the quaternary salt 14. This was reduced with NaBH4 in MeOH to obtain the expected N- methyl oxazolidine 15, which was hydrolyzed in refluxing aqueous oxalic acid to the free aldehydes 16. These were isolated in moderate yields and e.e. values as shown. Chapter IV. ‘A Darzens Route to α-Amino Acids’. This describes a novel route to α-amino acids, based on the classical Darzens glycidic ester synthesis.9 In this approach (Scheme 5), the glycidic ester (19) was prepared from benzaldehyde (17) and t-butyl bromoformate (18), with KOH in THF as base, and tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) as phase transfer catalyst.9b The oxirane ring in 19 was cleaved via nucleophilic attack with an amine (20), to furnish the two regio-isomeric hydroxy- amino acids (21) and (22). Generally, the β-hydroxy-α-amino acid product (21) predominated over the α-hydroxy-β-amino acid product (22), the two being separated chromatographically. The hydroxyl group in 21 was reductively cleaved via its xanthate derivative (23), by refluxing it in toluene with AIBN (10 mol %) over 4 h. The resulting α-amino acid derivatives (24) were obtained in moderate yields (< 60 %) upon chromatographic purification. (The β-amino analog 22, would lead to the corresponding β-amino acid, but this was not pursued further.) This strategy lends itself to creating structural diversity at the β-centre in the α- amino acid, drawing upon the wide scope of the well-established Darzens condensation reaction. Also, the introduction of the amino moiety is facilitated by the enhanced reactivity at the α-centre of the oxirane ring in the glycidic ester (19), presumably for both electronic and steric reasons.

This thesis is focussed on the biosynthesis of three toxins: fluoroacetate, 4-fluoro-L-theronine and β-ethynyl-L-serine which are biosynthesised by the soil bacteria Streptomyces cattleya. The two fluorinated metabolites originate from a common biosynthetic pathway and the thesis describes studies carried out on an aldose-ketose isomerase enzyme of the pathway. The biosynthetic origin of β-ethynyl-L-serine is not known. A total synthesis of this acetylenic amino acid is descibed along with the development of a new analytical method for identifying the metabolite and for future isotope-labelling based biosynthetic studies. Chapter 1 presents the background of this research. It is focussed on the biosynthesis of fluoroacetate and 4-fluoro-L-threonine by S. cattleya and it also introduces alkyne-containing natural products and their biosynthesis. Chapter 2 describes the work carried out on crystallisation of the aldose-ketose isomerase of the fluorometabolite pathway in S. cattleya. Crystals of the isomerase were obtained and they were diffracted by X-ray, however a structure could not be solved. Chapter 3 contains site-directed mutagenesis studies of the isomerase from S. cattleya. Chapter 4 describes an enantioselective total synthesis of β-ethynyl-L-serine. A robust analytical technique based on derivatisation using 'Click' chemistry and LC-MS was developed for the detection of this amino acid directly from the fermentation broth. Chapter 5 details the experimental procedures for compounds synthesised in this thesis and the biological procedures for gene cloning and protein purification.

Glycosidases are carbohydrate processing essential enzymes necessary for the growth and development of all organisms such as intestinal digestion, post-translational processing of glycoproteins and the lysosomal catabolism of glycoconjugates. The function of these glycosidases is limited and studies are still in progress to understand their function at cellular level. In recent years, biological role of carbohydrates has resulted in various carbohydrate-based therapeutics2. These carbohydrates serve as a tool to study the function of glycosidases by inhibiting their active site. The concept of inhibition is yet another approach for the discovery of drugs. Glycosidase inhibitors studied are often sugar analogs and a wide range of such inhibitors are reported in the literature.3, 4 Thiosugars, in particular, have gained new perspectives owing to their electronic, geometric, conformational and flexibility differences, as sulfide moiety being less electronegative and more polarizable than the oxygen counter-part.5 These differences make the thiosugars distinct from their oxygen analogs and hence can mimic the active site of the enzyme. Many molecules are reported to be promising glycosidase inhibitors but are not easily accessible due to difficulties in their synthesis. Hence, the chemical synthesis of thio-analogs of carbohydrates, by synthetic routes, remains a major challenge. To address the complexity of synthesis and to make available new strategies, we envisioned the use of benzyltriethylammonium tetrathiomolybdate [BnEt3N]2MoS4, a versatile and efficient sulfur transfer reagent. Objectives of the study: a. Design novel thiosugars as glycosidase inhibitors. b. Devise strategy for the synthesis of novel thiosugars through a simple, practical approach. c. Evaluate the synthesized molecules as glycosidase and HIV-1 protease inhibitors, in silico. d. Study miscellaneous applications of the novel thiosugar-derived thialactones. The thesis is divided into five sections: Section A entitled “Synthesis of deoxythiosugars and thiosugar-based lactones” is divided into two parts, Part A and Part B. Part A – “An introduction and background on thiosugars and sulfur transfer reagents” has been provided. A brief discussion of sulfur transfer reagents in carbohydrate synthesis and earlier work related to the use of benzyltriethylammonium tetrathiomolybdate, [BnEt3N]2MoS4, as an efficient sulfur transfer reagent have been provided. Part B –“Design of inhibitors of glycosidases and HIV-1 protease” deals with the design of inhibitors of glycosidase and HIV-1 protease. The designed thiosugar molecules exhibit the characteristics of sugars and will act as planar molecules to mimic the active site conformation of a good inhibitor. Synthetic methodologies devised and adopted for the synthesis of constrained sugar-derived thialactones include: (a) Double displacement, (b) Displacement-cum-intramolecular thia-Michael addition, (c) Epoxide ring-opening-cum-intramolecular thia-Michael addition, and (d) Displacement-cum-epoxide ring opening in an intramolecular fashion. In all the above mentioned strategies, sulfur transfer step is the crucial step which was achieved by the use of benzyltriethylammonium tetrathiomolybdate [BnEt3N]2MoS46 as the key reagent. (a) Various constrained thialactones synthesized by double displacement strategy using tetrathiomolybdate as the sulfur transfer reagent are shown in Scheme – 1. (b) A number of constrained thialactones were synthesized following nucleophilic displacement-cum-intramolecular thia-Michael addition strategy as shown in Scheme – 2. (c) Synthesis of bicyclic thiolactones was achieved using the strategy of epoxide ring-opening-cum-intramolecular thia-Michael addition. (Scheme – 3) (d) A few bicyclic thialactones were synthesized through displacement-epoxide ring opening-cyclization as shown in Scheme – 4. The methodology was also utilized for the synthesis of thiosugar derivatives and azido-thialactones. (Fig. 1) Figure 1 Synthesis of deoxythiosugars: The bicyclic thialactones (designed as inhibitors) on reduction with borohydride exchange resin (BER) easily furnished the deoxythiosugars (Fig. 2). It is worth mentioning that the synthesis of these thiosugars as reported in the literature involved lengthy procedures whereas the present methodology turns out to be short and concise. Figure 2 Section B entitled “Synthesis of amines, β-amino acids and novel thiosugar-based dehydroamino acids” comprises a brief introduction on the importance of amines, β-amino acids and dehyroamino acids. In this section the effective utilization of benzyltriethylammonium tetrathiomolybdate as a key reagent for reductive transformations and its application in the synthesis of amines, β-amino acids and dehyroamino acids have been presented. A one pot reduction of azides to amines followed by intermolecular aza-Michael addition employing tetrathiomolybdate was achieved to furnish a number of different β-amino esters as shown in Scheme -4: Scheme 4 The study was further extended to the reduction of a few anomeric azides to afford the corresponding anomeric amines and derivatives. (Fig. 3) Figure 3 A one-pot thia-Michael addition-vinyl azide reduction in a tandem fashion employing benzyltriethylammonium tetrathiomolybdate was studied and was shown to be effective for the synthesis of thiosugar derived dehydroamino acid derivatives. (Scheme – 5) Scheme 5 Section C entitled “Molecular docking studies of deoxythiosugar probes” gives an overview of different glycosidases, HIV-1 protease and their inhibitors. This section also deals with a brief introduction on active site conformations of potent inhibitors. In this connection we have studied the crystal conformations of the synthesized molecules whose conformations were the same as that of the existing inhibitors in the active site. (Fig. 4) With this background in silico study of the synthesized deoxythiosugar probes was conducted on human glycosidases: α-mannosidase, α-galactosidase, β-glucosidase and HIV-1 protease, respectively. Figure 4 Molecular docking was carried out using Autodock suite, molecular modeling simulation. Separate docking procedures were employed for the four different receptors. The PDBs representing the four enzyme targets were 2V3D, 3H53, 1X9D and 3I8W for β–glucosidase, α–galactosidase, α–mannosidase and HIV–1 protease respectively. The control compounds used for α–mannosidase were mannostatin and kifunensine. NMB, THK, and BED were the positive controls for HIV–1 protease. Similarly, NBV and cyclophellitol were the controls used for β–glucosidase and NOJ, N–methyl calystegine B2 for α–galactosidase. (Fig. 5) Ligands TGSB68 and TGSB482 had the energy value of –6.49 kcal/mol comparable to that of the average reference value of the positive control, and thus, the potent candidate as identified by molecular docking to HIV-1 protease. (Fig. 6a) The control compounds used for α–mannosidase were mannostatin and kifunensine, which bind with mean binding energy of -9.11 and -5.56. In the case of α–mannosidase, the same compounds TGSB68 and TGSB482 were selected due to comparable energy and a good cluster size with that of positive control. (Fig. 6b) For β– glucosidase, ligands TGSC108 and TGSC236, which had comparable values to that of positive control was identified as the Figure 5 Figure 6 potent candidate. (Fig. 6c) In the case of α–galactosidase, again the ligands TGSB68 and TGSB482 were selected based on binding energies. (Fig. 6d) In conclusion, the concept analogy (deoxy nature, planarity, thiosugar framework, lactone moiety) for the design of inhibitors indeed worked positively. The results are really encouraging. An in vivo study of the synthesized novel thiosugar probes will certainly provide a potent inhibitor. Section D entitled “Research methodology” provides experimental procedures adopted with details of synthesis. Section E entitled “Bibliography” provides the references cited in this work.