The aim of this project was to develop a synthetic strategy for the production of uncommon sugars thevetose (6-deoxy-3-O-methylglucose) and cymarose (2,6-dideoxy-3-O-methylallose or 2,6-dideoxy-3-O-methylaltrose) derivatives, present in the trisaccharide moiety of a pregnane glycoside with appetite-suppressant activity. A D-thevetose glycosyl donor was prepared from methyl D-glucopyranoside. The first step of the synthesis was the formation of a 4,6-O-benzylidene derivative that was selectively methylated on the 3-hydroxy group by using a copper mediated alkylation process. Treatment with NBS and reductive removal of the resultant bromide produced the required protected thevetose glycoside. This success is a vast improvement compared to the published results of the patent reporting this synthesis. Attempts to prepare the 2α-iodo derivative by direct nucleophilic substitution of a 2-O-triflate manno-derivative resulted in a most unusual rearrangement reaction. Allal derivatives as starting materials in the preparation of 2α-iodo sugars were also unsuccessful due to steric hindrance provided by the axial 3-methoxy group. Preparation of a cymaroside precursor was achieved by using glucal as a starting material and by the inversion of C-3 in a consecutive oxidation/reduction sequence of the iodo acetate. Lastly, the preparation of the β-oleandroside derivative of cholesterol was achieved in a model reaction. The sugar oleandrose is a C-3 epimer to cymarose and it can be found in pregnane and cardenolide glycosides. / Professor F.R. van Heerden

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by Yeung Kwan Wing. / Thesis submitted in: 2002. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 68-73). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Contents --- p.i / Acknowledgement --- p.ii / Abstract --- p.iii / Abbreviation --- p.v / Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1-1 --- Background --- p.1 / Chapter 1-2 --- Sharpless Epoxidation --- p.2 / Chapter 1-3 --- Mn-Salen Complexes for Epoxidation --- p.4 / Chapter 1-4 --- Oxaziridinium Salts --- p.6 / Chapter 1-5 --- Dioxiranes --- p.7 / Chapter 1-6 --- Asymmetric Epoxidation by Dioxirane --- p.11 / Chapter 2. --- Results and Discussion --- p.28 / Chapter 2-1 --- C-Glycoside Ulose Catalyst derived from L-arabinose --- p.28 / Chapter 2-2 --- Dioxirane epoxidation catalyzed by L-arabino-4-uloses --- p.30 / Chapter 3. --- Experimental Section --- p.51 / Chapter 4. --- References --- p.68 / Chapter 5. --- Appendix --- p.74