IChO 1997 · Theory problem 1

Structure of a trisaccharide from cottonseed meal

Compound X is a trisaccharide which occurs principally in cottonseed meal.
Compound X does not react with Benedict’s or Fehling’s solutions nor does it mutarotate.
Acid-catalyzed hydrolysis gives three different D-hexoses, A, B, and C. Compounds A and B, as well as compound 1 (see below), all give the same osazone upon reaction with excess acidic phenylhydrazine. Compound C reacts with nitric acid to give an optically inactive compound D. The Kiliani-Fischer approach is used to establish the configurational relationship between D-glyceraldehyde and C. The intermediate aldotetrose which leads to C does not give a meso compound when oxidized by nitric acid. When A is treated with nitric acid, the dicarboxylic acid (aldaric acid) produced is optically active. Both A and B react with 5 moles of \(\ce{HIO4}\); one mole of A gives 5 moles of methanoic (formic) acid and one mole of methanal (formaldehyde) while one mole of B gives 3 moles of methanoic (formic) acid and 2 moles of methanal (formaldehyde) and one mole of carbon dioxide. Both A and B are related to the same aldotetrose which is the diastereoisomer of the one to which C is related. Methylation of X followed by hydrolysis gives a 2,3,4-tri-O-methyl-D-hexose (E) (derived from A), a 1,3,4,6-tetra-O-methyl-D-hexose (F) (derived from B), and a 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-methyl-D-hexose (G) (derived from C).

1.1 On the answer sheet, draw Fischer projection formulas of A, B, C, and D.

1.2 On the answer sheet, complete the appropriate Haworth projection formulas to clearly show the ring size and absolute stereochemistry of E, F, and G. Either of the anomeric forms are acceptable as an answer.

1.3 On the answer sheet, underline the correct representation of the connectivity sequence of the three monosaccharides present in trisaccharide X.

Figure 1

Official English text of the problem.

Answers

  • 1.1: The intended assignments are A = D-glucose, B = D-fructose, C = D-galactose, and D = meso-galactaric acid (mucic acid). Their Fischer projections and stereochemical SMILES are specified below.
  • 1.2: E = 2,3,4-tri-O-methyl-D-glucopyranose, F = 1,3,4,6-tetra-O-methyl-D-fructofuranose, and G = 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-methyl-D-galactopyranose. Explicit \(\beta\)-anomer drawings and SMILES are given below.
  • 1.3: \(\boxed{\mathbf C-\mathbf A-\mathbf B}\), equivalently \(\boxed{\mathbf B-\mathbf A-\mathbf C}\): galactose–glucose–fructose, with glucose in the middle. This is the monosaccharide sequence in raffinose.

Solution

1.1 — Identifying the monosaccharides and drawing their Fischer projections

The supplied compound 1 is D-mannose, with its Fischer hydroxyl groups at C2–C5 arranged left–left–right–right:

O=C[C@@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@H](O)CO

Osazone formation modifies C1 and C2 while retaining the configurations at C3, C4, and C5. Consequently, D-glucose, D-mannose, and D-fructose give the same osazone. Its retained Fischer hydroxyl sequence at C3–C5 is left–right–right.

The common D-glucosazone, with hydrazone geometries left unspecified, has SMILES:

c1ccccc1NN=CC(=NNc2ccccc2)[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@H](O)CO

The balanced net reaction is

\[ \ce{C6H12O6 + 3C6H5NHNH2 ->[H^+] C18H22N4O4 + C6H5NH2 + NH3 + 2H2O}. \]

Here phenylhydrazine is NNc1ccccc1, aniline is Nc1ccccc1, ammonia is N, and water is O.

The periodate results distinguish the aldose A from the ketose B. The balanced reactions are

\[ \begin{aligned} \mathbf A:\quad& \ce{C6H12O6 + 5HIO4 -> 5HCOOH + HCHO + 5HIO3},\\ \mathbf B:\quad& \ce{C6H12O6 + 5HIO4 -> 3HCOOH + 2HCHO + CO2 + 5HIO3 + H2O}. \end{aligned} \]

Periodic acid is OI(=O)(=O)=O; iodic acid is OI(=O)=O. The carbon-containing products are methanoic acid O=CO, methanal C=O, and carbon dioxide O=C=O.

Exhaustive cleavage breaks all five carbon–carbon bonds:

  • For A, the aldehyde carbon and four secondary alcohol carbons give \(5\ \mathrm{mol}\) of methanoic acid per mole of sugar. The single terminal primary alcohol gives \(1\ \mathrm{mol}\) of methanal.
  • For B, two terminal primary alcohol groups give \(2\ \mathrm{mol}\) of methanal, three secondary alcohol carbons give \(3\ \mathrm{mol}\) of methanoic acid, and the ketone carbon gives \(1\ \mathrm{mol}\) of carbon dioxide.

Thus B is D-fructose. Taking the separately labelled compound 1 to be distinct from A, the intended assignment is A = D-glucose.

To identify C, consider chain extension from D-glyceraldehyde, O=C[C@H](O)CO. Kiliani–Fischer extension adds a carbon at the aldehyde end while preserving the existing stereocentres. The two possible D-aldotetroses behave differently on oxidation:

Aldotetrose Fischer OH positions, C2–C3 SMILES Nitric-acid oxidation product
D-Erythrose Right, right O=C[C@H](O)[C@H](O)CO meso-Tartaric acid, O=C(O)[C@H](O)[C@H](O)C(=O)O
D-Threose Left, right O=C[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)CO (2S,3S)-Tartaric acid, O=C(O)[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)C(=O)O, which is chiral

Nitric acid, O=[N+]([O-])O, oxidizes both terminal groups to carboxyl groups. The balanced oxidation equations, using \([O]\) for an oxidizing-oxygen equivalent, are

\[ \ce{C4H8O4 + 3[O] ->[HNO3] C4H6O6 + H2O}, \]

\[ \ce{C6H12O6 + 3[O] ->[HNO3] C6H10O8 + H2O}. \]

Because the tetrose leading to C gives a non-meso acid, it must be D-threose. Its left–right configuration becomes the C4–C5 configuration of C.

The aldaric acid D must be meso. With identical carboxyl groups at both ends, the required symmetric Fischer hydroxyl sequence is therefore

\[ \text{C2–C5: right–left–left–right}. \]

This identifies C as D-galactose and D as galactaric acid, conventionally called mucic acid.

The requested Fischer projections are specified completely in the following table. Draw the carbon backbone vertically, with C1 at the top. At every stereocentre, place hydrogen opposite the indicated hydroxyl group.

Label and name Top and bottom groups Fischer OH positions Stereochemical SMILES
A: D-Glucose Top \(\ce{CHO}\); bottom \(\ce{CH2OH}\) C2 right; C3 left; C4 right; C5 right O=C[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@H](O)CO
B: D-Fructose Top \(\ce{CH2OH}\); C2 is \(\ce{C=O}\); bottom \(\ce{CH2OH}\) C3 left; C4 right; C5 right OCC(=O)[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@H](O)CO
C: D-Galactose Top \(\ce{CHO}\); bottom \(\ce{CH2OH}\) C2 right; C3 left; C4 left; C5 right O=C[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)CO
D: meso-Galactaric acid (mucic acid) Both ends \(\ce{COOH}\) C2 right; C3 left; C4 left; C5 right O=C(O)[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)C(=O)O

As a consistency check, oxidation of A gives chiral D-glucaric acid (saccharic acid):

O=C(O)[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@H](O)C(=O)O

Its hydroxyl sequence lacks the symmetry of D. The C4–C5 configurations of both A and B correspond to D-erythrose, the required diastereoisomer of D-threose.

1.2 — Methylation analysis and the Haworth projections

Exhaustive methylation converts the free hydroxyl groups of X into methyl ethers. Oxygen atoms already involved in glycosidic bonds or forming the ring oxygen are not methylated. Hydrolysis subsequently restores hydroxyl groups at the glycosidic attachment positions.

Product Methylated positions Interpretation in X
E, from A C2, C3, C4 C5 supplies the pyranose ring oxygen; C1 and C6 participate in glycosidic bonds
F, from B C1, C3, C4, C6 C5 supplies the furanose ring oxygen; C2 participates in a glycosidic bond
G, from C C2, C3, C4, C6 C5 supplies the pyranose ring oxygen; C1 participates in a glycosidic bond

Thus E and G have six-membered pyranose rings, whereas F has a five-membered furanose ring.

For the following precise Haworth descriptions:

  • Draw each pyranose with O5 at the upper right and C1 at the right, continuing clockwise through C2, C3, C4, and C5.
  • Draw the furanose with O5 at the top and C2 at the right, continuing clockwise through C3, C4, and C5.
  • “Up” and “down” mean above and below the ring plane. Unlisted hydrogens point opposite the listed substituent.

Choosing the permitted \(\beta\) anomers gives:

Product and name Substituents up Substituents down Stereochemical SMILES
E: 2,3,4-tri-O-methyl-\(\beta\)-D-glucopyranose C1–OH; C3–OMe; C5–\(\ce{CH2OH}\) C2–OMe; C4–OMe OC[C@H]1O[C@@H](O)[C@H](OC)[C@@H](OC)[C@@H]1OC
F: 1,3,4,6-tetra-O-methyl-\(\beta\)-D-fructofuranose C2–OH; C3–OMe; C5–\(\ce{CH2OCH3}\), containing C6 C2–\(\ce{CH2OCH3}\), containing C1; C4–OMe COC[C@@]1(O)O[C@H](COC)[C@@H](OC)[C@@H]1OC
G: 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-methyl-\(\beta\)-D-galactopyranose C1–OH; C3–OMe; C4–OMe; C5–\(\ce{CH2OCH3}\) C2–OMe COC[C@H]1O[C@@H](O)[C@H](OC)[C@@H](OC)[C@H]1OC

Here OMe denotes \(\ce{OCH3}\). To draw the corresponding \(\alpha\) anomer, reverse the two substituents at the anomeric carbon only. Haworth projections specify relative orientations; they do not imply that the actual rings are planar.

1.3 — Connectivity sequence

The absence of reducing behaviour and mutarotation shows that all three anomeric centres are blocked in glycosidic bonds.

Methylation identifies two attachment positions on A, C1 and C6, but only one on each of B and C, respectively C2 and C1. Therefore A must be the central residue, giving

\[ \boxed{ \text{D-galactose}\;-\;\text{D-glucose}\;-\;\text{D-fructose} } \]

or, in the problem’s labels,

\[ \boxed{\mathbf C-\mathbf A-\mathbf B}. \]

Formation of two glycosidic bonds removes two water molecules, so the molecular formula and balanced hydrolysis are

\[ \ce{3C6H12O6 - 2H2O = C18H32O16}, \]

\[ \ce{C18H32O16 + 2H2O ->[H^+] 3C6H12O6}, \]

where the three product molecules are A, B, and C.

A compatible connectivity is the raffinose linkage pattern, D-galactopyranosyl-(1→6)-D-glucopyranosyl-(1↔2)-D-fructofuranoside. With its three anomeric configurations deliberately unspecified, its SMILES is:

OC[C@H]1OC(OC[C@H]2OC(OC3(CO)O[C@H](CO)[C@@H](O)[C@@H]3O)[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@@H]2O)[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@H]1O

The requested sequence follows directly from the evidence. Assigning this particular pairing of attachment positions requires an additional identification: the alternative pairing C1(C)–C1(A) and C2(B)–C6(A) also preserves the same methylation results and nonreducing behaviour.

The solution was checked against the official solution. Where this solution differs from the official solution, the official solution contains an error or a misprint.