NEW COMPOUNDS FOR THE TREATMENT OF CANCER

THIS invention relates to the treatment of cancer. In particular it relates to new compounds and compositions for the treatment of cancer and to methods of synthesising the compounds. .

Gousiekte, which can be literally translated as "quick" disease, is one of the six most important plant toxicoses of livestock in South Africa. It is a plant-induced cardiomyopathy of domestic ruminants which is characterized by the sudden death of animals within a period of three to six weeks after the initial ingestion of toxic plant material. The six species of the three genera of the Rubiaceae family viz. Pachystigma pygmaeum, P. thamnus, and P. latifolium; Pavetta harborii and P.schumanniana, and Fadogia homblei have been identified as the causative agents of the disease. The disease was first identified in 1908 but because of the irregularity of the outbreaks, investigation of the disease was not pursued until a severe outbreak in 1915 was reported in which 1047 out of a flock of 1761 sheep died. Gousiekte is the last of the major plant poisonings in southern Africa to be investigated. The causal toxin has been isolated from Pachystigma pygmaeum, Pavetta harborii, P.schumanniana and Fadogia homblei but has hitherto not been identified.

The causal toxin of gousiekte has now been identified as the novel compound pavettamine (1) which is the 2S,4R,8R, ^' \ OS stereoisomer of 1 ,1 1 -diamino-6-aza- undecane-2,4,8,10-tetraol.

(1) Pavettamine has been found to be an anticancer agent and an inhibitor of the growth of eukaryotic cells, without inhibiting the growth of prokaryotic cells. The

structural elucidation of pavettamine was carried out by a combination of mass spectrometry and ¹³ C NMR of pavettamine and its derivatives.

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) established the molecular mass of pavettamine as 251 and the molecular formula as Ci ₀ H ₂₅ N ₃ O ₄ by accurate mass determination of the [M+H] ⁺ , [M+Na] ⁺ and [2M+Na] ⁺ ions as well as the fragment ions formed from the [M+H] ⁺ ion in an MS-MS analysis. The ¹³ C NMR spectrum showed only 5 signals for the proton-bearing carbon atoms (see Table 1) and the ¹ H NMR spectrum multiplet signals for only 8 protons. It is evident from the NMR data that the pavettamine molecule contains a symmetry element: which is either a C ₂ axis or a symmetry plane. The multiplicities of the different ¹³ C resonances were deduced from the proton-decoupled CH and CH ₂ subspectra obtained using the DEPT pulse sequence. The signals of the proton-bearing carbon atoms were correlated with specific proton resonances in a two-dimensional (2-D) ¹³ C( ¹ H) heteronuclear chemical shift correlation experiment (HETCOR) utilizing the one-bond ( ¹³ C ₁ ¹ H) spin-spin couplings. The assignments of the signals in the ¹ H NMR spectrum were based on first-order analysis of the spin systems and chemical shift considerations and were confirmed by a two-dimensional (2D) ( ¹ H ₁ ¹ H) homonuclear chemical shift correlation (COSY) experiment and ¹ H( ¹ H) spin-decoupling experiments. The 1 ,1 1 -diamino-6-aza- undecane-2,4,8,10-tetraol structure was assigned to pavettamine on the basis of the above data.

The 1 ,1 1 -diamino-6-aza-undecane-2,4,8,10-tetraol structure is in agreement with the fragmentation pattern (Scheme 1) derived from the analysis of the MS-MS spectrum of pavettamine as can be seen in Table 2.

Table 1 NMR Data for pavettamine (1) (in D ₂ O)

Table 2 MS-MS of Pavettamine (1 )

Scheme 1 : MS-MS Fragmentation pattern for pavettamine (1).

There are ten stereoisomers of the compound 1 ,1 1 -diamino-6-aza-undecane- 2,4,8, 10-tetraol. Two of the stereoisomers are meso compounds, which are optically inactive, and eight of the stereoisomers are in the form of four pairs of enantiomers. As shown in Figure 1 , six of the stereoisomers (A, B, C, D, E and F) meet the symmetry criteria of pavettamine whereas four stereoisomers (G, H, I, and J) (Figure 2) lack symmetry and can be excluded. A and B each have a plane of symmetry and are meso compounds, and C, D, E and F have C ₂ symmetry axes and form two enantiomeric pairs C, D and E, F. Differentiation between the two groups of stereoisomers was possible by determining whether pavettamine showed optical activity. Since meso compounds are optically inactive, the presence of a C ₂ symmetry element in pavettamine was established by the fact that the compound was optically active and showed a specific rotation of -19.5. Although the magnitude of the rotation remained in doubt as a result of solvent retained in the natural toxin obtained from the isolation

procedure, the optical activity excluded the presence of a symmetry plane and thus the two possible meso stereoisomers for pavettamine.

The relative stereochemistry of pavettamine was established by ¹³ C NMR analysis of the acetonide derivative of the 1 ,3-diol system present in the compound, a method developed by Rychnovsky. The amino groups present in pavettamine were first protected by converting the compound to the tri-Boc derivative by treatment with BoC ₂ O and Na ₂ CO ₃ in aqueous dioxane (Scheme 2). The 1 ,3-diol system was then protected as the acetonide by acid-catalysed (TsOH) transacetalisation with 2,2- dimethoxypropane. The signals at δ _c 30.00Q, 19.87Q and 19.71 Q for the 2,2-dimethyl groups of the formed dioxane rings as well as the signal at δ _c 98.73S for the acetal carbon atom established the syn stereochemistry of pavettamine. The absolute configuration as shown in (1) i.e. (2S,4R,SR^ 0S) (or ent-λ) was therefore assigned to pavettamine.

OH OH _D OH OH Boc ≡

BocHNL

Scheme 2: Determination of the relative stereochemistry of pavettamine (1). Reagents: a) BoC ₂ O, Na ₂ CO ₃ ; b) 2,2-Dimethoxypropane, TsOH.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided the compound 1 ,1 1 - diamino-6-aza-undecane-2,4,8,10-tetraol and its stereoisomers.

In particular, the invention provides the meso compounds

own in Figure 1 , which are optically inactive, and the enantiomeric pairs

own in Figure 1 and 2, which are optically active.

The thus provides a compound which is selected from the stereoisomers

The invention thus provides a compound which is selected from the stereoisomers

More particularly, the invention provides the stereoisomer (C) (pavettamine) which ,4R,8/ ^: ?,10S)-1 ,11 -diamino-6-aza-undecane-2,4,8,10-tetraol.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of selectively preparing a stereoisomer of 1 ,1 1 -diamino-6-aza-undecane-2,4,8,10-tetraol, the method including the steps of providing a 2,4-hydroxy protected 1 ,5-difunctionalised-2,4-hydroxypentane in which the stereochemistry on the 2 and 4 positions is selected from one of 2R, 4R; 2R,4S; 2S,4R and 2S,4S, the functional groups on the 1 and 5 carbon atoms are selected so that the 1 - carbon and the 5-carbon can both, selectively, be converted to a carboxylic acid or an aldehyde, and so that the functional groups on the 1 -carbon and the 5-carbon can both, selectively, be converted to an amine, converting either the 1 -carbon or the 5-carbon into a carboxylic acid or an aldehyde to produce a first intermediate, providing the same 2,4-hydroxy protected 1 ,5-difunctionalised-2,4-hydroxypentane and converting the functional group on the 1 -carbon or the 5-carbon to an amine to produce a second intermediate, condensing the first and the second intermediates to form the corresponding amide or imine; and reducing the amide or the imine to produce the stereoisomer of 2,4,8,10-hydroxy protected 1 ,1 1 -difunctionalised-6-aza-undecane-2,4,8,10-tetraol.

The stereoisomer may be selected from the stereoisomers

The stereoisomer may be 2

The 1-substituent may be a hydroxyl group and the 5-substituent may be a hydroxyl group protected by a hydroxy protecting group. For example, the 5-substituent may be an O-trityl group. Separately converting the 1 -hydroxy to a carboxylic acid or to

an amine may be, respectively, by oxidation of the hydroxy group to a carboxylic acid or by conversion of the 1 -hydroxy to a leaving group and converting the leaving group to an amine.

The functional group which is selected so that either the 1 -carbon or the 5-carbon can be converted into an amine may be a protected hydroxyl group. The protected hydroxide group may be an O-tosyl group.

Where the 1 -hydroxy group is an O-trityl group, the amide will be a 2,4,8,10- hydroxy protected 1 ,1 1-di-O,O-trityl-6-aza-5-oxo-undecane-2,4,8,10-tetraol. Reduction, followed by stepwise conversion of the O-trityl groups to amino groups, protection and deprotection of the secondary amino group and deprotection of the hydroxy protecting groups will then produce the desired stereoisomer of 1 ,1 1 -diamino-6-aza-undecane- 2,4,8, 10-tetraol.

The functional group which is selected so that either the 1 -carbon or the 5-carbon can be converted into a carboxylic acid or an aldehyde may be a hydroxyl group.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is a provided a method of selectively preparing a stereoisomer of 1 1 -diamino-6-aza-undecane-2,4,8, 10-tetraol, which includes the steps of preparing a chiral precursor by providing a 3,4-hydroxy-protected 3,4-dihydroxybutanoate ester selected from 3,4- dihydroxybutanoate esters having 3S or 3R stereochemistry, introducing an additional carbon atom as a methylene group into the selected 3,4- dihydroxy protected 3,4-dihydroxybutanoate ester with an (R)-(+)-methylarylsulfoxide to produce a 4,5-dihydroxy-protected 1 -(arylsulfinyl)-4,5-dihydroxypentan-2-one, reducing the 4,5-hydroxy-protected 1 -(arylsulfinyl)-4,5-dihydroxypentan-2-one with an alkylaluminium hydride to produce a 4,5-hydroxy-protected 1 -(arylsulfinyl)-pentane- 2,4,5-triol, in which the 4S isomer, in the presence of a zinc halide, produces the 2R, 4S isomer and, in the absence of a zinc halide, produces the 2S,4S isomer, and the 4R isomer, in the presence of a zinc halide, produces the 2S,4R isomer, and in the absence of a zinc halide, produces the 2R,4R isomer, deprotecting the 4,5-hydroxy-protected 1 -(arylsulfinyl)-pentane-2,4,5-triol to produce the corresponding 1 -(arylsulfinyl)-pentane-2,4,5-triol,

selectively protecting the 5-hydroxy group of the 1 -(arylsulfinyl)-pentane-2,4,5-triol to produce a 5-hydroxy-protected 1-(arylsulfinyl)-pentane-2,4,5-triol, selectively protecting the 2,4-hydroxy groups of the 5-hydroxy-protected 1 - (arylsulfinyl)-pentane-2,4,5-triol to produce a 2,4, 5-hydroxy-protected 1 -(arylsulfinyl)- pentane-2,4,5-triol, converting the 2,4,5-hydroxy-protected 1-(arylsulfinyl)-pentane-2,4,5-triol to the corresponding 2,4,5-hydroxy-protected 1 -acetoxy-1 -arylthio-5-pentane-2,4,5-triol by Pummerer rearrangement, and reducing the 2,4,5-hydroxy-protected 1 -acetoxy-1 -arylthio-5-pentane-2,4,5-triol to produce the 2R ,4S or 2S,4R or the 2S,4S or 2R ,4R 1 , 2,4-hydroxy protected-pentane- 1 ,2,4,5-tetraol, chiral precursor.

The 3,4-hydroxy-protected alkyl 3,4-dihydroxybutanoate ester having 3S or 3R stereochemistry may be prepared from (2R)-malic acid or (2S)-malic acid by esterification to produce the diester followed by selective reduction to produce an alkyl 3,4-dihydroxybutanoate in which the stereochemistry at position 3 will be R or S depending on whether (2R )-malic acid or (2S)-malic acid is selected as the starting material.

Preferably, the diester will be a diethyl ester. The selective reducing agent may be a borohydride in the presence of borane-methyl sulfide complex (BMS).

The (f?)-(+)-methyl-p-aryl sulfoxide will preferably be the (R)-)+)-methyl p- tolylsulfoxide. This chiral compound can be prepared from p-toluenesulfinyl chloride by reaction with menthol to produce the menthyl ester followed by alkylation using methyl magnesium iodide in ether according to known procedures.

The reduction of the 4,5-dihydroxy-protected 1 -(arylsulfinyl)-4,5-dihydroxypentan- 2-one, is preferably carried out using diisobutyl aluminium hydride (DIBALH) and the zinc halide may be zinc chloride or zinc bromide. The selectivity of the reduction in the presence or in the absence of the zinc salt is an important feature of the invention in that it selectively provides the stereochemistry on carbon 2. Accordingly, by selecting and by carrying out the reduction step in the presence or in the absence of the zinc salt, the stereochemistry on carbon atoms 2 and 4 can selectively be controlled.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of selectively preparing a stereoisomer of 1 1 -diamino-6-aza-undecane-2,4,8,10-tetraol, which includes the steps of oxidising a chiral precursor prepared by the method of any of Claims 10 to 14, to a

2,4,5-hydroxy-protected 2,4,5-trihydroxypentanoic acid or the corresponding pentanal, converting the 1 -hydroxy group of a chiral precursor prepared by the method of any one of Claims 10 to 14, to a leaving group, substituting the leaving group with an azide to produce a 1 ,2,4-hydroxy-protected-5-azidopentane-1 ,2,4-triol, and reducing the azido group of the 1 ,2,4-hydroxy-protected 5-azidopentane-1 ,2,4-triol to an amine to produce a 1 ,2,4-hydroxy-protected 5-aminopentane-1 ,2,4-triol, condensing the 2,4,5-hydroxy-protected 2,4,5-trihydroxypentanoic acid or corresponding pentanal and the 1 ,2,4-hydroxy-protected 5-aminopentane-1 ,2,4-triol to produce a hydroxy- protected λ/-(2',4',5'-trihydroxypentyl)-2,4,5-trihydroxypentanamide, or a hydroxy protected 6-azaundec-6-ene-1 ,2,4,8,10,1 1 -hexaol reducing the hydroxy-protected λ/-(2',4',5'-trihydroxypentyl)-2,4,5-tri- hydroxypentanamide 6-azaundec-6-ene-1 ,2,4,8,10,1 1 -hexaol to the corresponding hydroxy-protected 6-aza-undecane 1 ,2,4,8,10,1 1 -hexaol, selectively deprotecting the 1 and 1 1 hydroxy groups to produce a 2,4,8,10 hydroxy-protected 6-aza-undecane-1 , 2,4,8, 10,1 1 -hexaol, converting the 1 and 1 1 hydroxy groups to leaving groups, protecting the 6-aza nitrogen atom, and displacing the leaving groups with azide to produce an N-protected 2,4,8, 10-hydroxy-protected 6-aza-1 ,1 1 -diazidoundecane-2,4,8,10-tetraol, deprotecting the 2,4,8 and 10 hydroxy groups to produce an λ/-protected 6-aza- 1 ,1 1 -diazido-undecane-2,4,8,10-tetraol, reducing the azido groups of the λ/-protected 6-aza-1 ,1 1 -diazido-undecane- 2,4,8, 1 1 -tetraol to amino groups to produce an λ/-protected 1 ,1 1 -diamino-6-aza- undecane-2,4,8,10-tetraol, and removing the nitrogen protecting group to produce the desired stereoisomer of 1 ,1 1 -diamino-6-aza-undecane-2,4,8, 10-tetraol.

Protection of the 3,4-hydroxyl groups of the alkyl 3,4-dihydroxybutanoate ester will preferably be carried out by forming the acetonide using 2,2-dimethoxypropane. Selective protection of the primary hydroxyl group of the 1 -(arylsulfinyl)-pentane-2,4,5-

triol may be carried out using trityl chloride in the presence of a base such as dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP). Protection of the secondary 2,4-dihydroxy groups may then also be carried out by the formation of the acetonide. Reduction of the Pummerer rearranged product may be carried out by any suitable reducing agent such as lithium aluminium hydride. This C ₅ reduction product is referred to, for convenience, as the "chiral precursor".

Orthogonal protection of the chiral precursor obtained by selecting (2S)-malic acid as starting material, followed by selective deprotection of either the protected 1 -hydroxyl group or the protected 5-hydroxyl group provides either the 2R ,4S stereochemistry of the chiral precursor or the enantiomeric 2S,4R stereochemistry, respectively.

Conversion of this chiral precursor to the carboxylic acid and, separately, to the amine is a further important feature of the invention. These two steps provide the two halves of the 1 ,1 1 -diamino-6-aza-undecane-2,4,8,10-tetraol product. Accordingly, a selection of the stereochemistry on the 2 and 4 positions of this chiral precursor will fix the stereochemistry on all four stereogenic centres of the product. So, for example, if the stereochemistry on carbons 2 and 4 of the chiral precursor are 2S and 4R, the stereochemistry on positions 8 and 10 of the undecane-2,4,8,10-tetraol will be 8R and 1 OS. Similarly, if the stereochemistry at positions 2 and 4 of the chiral precursor is 2R and 4S the stereochemistry at positions 8 and 10 of the product will be 8S and 10R .

The primary hydroxyl group of the chiral precursor may be converted to a leaving group by reaction with tosyl chloride. After substitution of the O-tosyl leaving group with sodium azide, the resulting azide group may be reduced to the amine with a reducing agent such as lithium aluminum hydride.

The oxidation of the primary hydroxyl group of the chiral precursor to the corresponding carboxylic and may be carried out with an oxidizing agent such as 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyl-1 -oxy, free radical, in the presence of sodium chlorite and sodium hypochlorite. Condensation of the amine and the carboxylic acid may be carried out in the presence of 1 ,1 -carbonyl-diimidazole.

The reduction of the amide to the amine may be carried out with a reducing agent such as lithium aluminium hydride and cleavage of the primary O-trityl groups may be carried out using a reducing agent such as sodium in liquid ammonia. Conversion of the primary hydroxyl groups into leaving groups may be carried out by reaction with p- toluenesulfonyl chloride. This step also protects the nitrogen atom as the corresponding λ/-tosylate. Substitution of the O-tosyl leaving groups with azide may be carried out with a metal azide such as sodium azide and deprotection of the secondary hydroxyl groups may be carried out with p-toluenesulfonic acid in methanol. Conversion of the azido groups to amino groups may be carried out with a reducing agent such as palladium on carbon and removal of the λ/-tosylate group may be carried out with a reducing agent such as sodium in liquid ammonia.

In an embodiment of the invention, as shown in Schemes 3, 4 and 5, pavettamine was synthesised from (2S)-malic acid in a process designed to provide any one of the possible stereoisomers and which established the absolute configuration of the compound.

The starting material chosen was the four-carbon unit (2S)-malic acid, where stereochemistry at one position is already defined. Subsequent steps (Scheme 3) involved esterification to give 2, selective reduction of one of the esters to give 3 and acetonide protection to give 4. An additional carbon atom was introduced as a methyl sulfoxide 7 to give compound 8. The (R)-(+)-methyl p-tolylsulfoxide 7 was prepared from the anhydrous sodium salt of p-toluenesulfinic acid 5 via the menthyl ester 6. Reduction of the carbonyl was carried out using DIBALH, and in the presence of ZnBr ₂ only the syn product 9 was formed. This reaction makes use of the chiral sulfoxide to control the stereoselectivity of the reduction: in the absence of ZnBr ₂ , only the anti product results. Removal of the acetonide followed by protection of the primary alcohol with the triphenylmethyl group gave 11. The syn diol was protected as an acetonide to give 12. In order to prepare the C ₅ unit 14 (the "chiral precursor") from compound 12, the sulfoxide group was transformed to a hydroxyl group by Pummerer rearrangement and reduction.

The C ₅ unit was firstly functionalised to a carboxylic acid 15 by oxidation with TEMPO and NaOCI/NaCIO ₂ and, secondly, to an amine 18 via the tosylate 16 and azide 17 (Scheme 4).

Scheme 4. Functionalisation of the C ₅ unit in preparation for coupling

Preparation of the Ci ₀ unit is shown in Scheme 5. The amine and carboxylic acid were linked to give amide 19 using the peptide coupling agent 1 ,1 '-carbonyldiimidazole.

Reduction of the amide to give an amine was achieved using LiAIH ₄ in refluxing toluene.

The triphenylmethyl deprotection was achieved using sodium in liquid ammonia to give compound 21.

Tosylation of compound 21 was carried out, followed by reaction with NaN ₃ to give the diazide 23. Removal of the acetonide yielded diazide 24. Reduction of this compound under H ₂ pressure (5 atm) using Pd/C as catalyst yielded amine 25. The final deprotection step was achieved using sodium in liquid ammonia. Clean-up of the final product was achieved using a Sephadex G10 column for salt removal, preceded by elution with water from a nitrile solid phase extraction column for removal of aromatic compounds.

Scheme 5. Preparation of the Ci ₀ unit and functionalisation to pavettamine

¹ H and ¹³ C NMR data of compound 26 proved to be identical to that of the natural product pavettamine. In addition, optical rotation measurements on compound 26 showed the sign of rotation to be minus, as found for the natural product. The synthesis thus showed that the absolute stereochemistry of the natural product pavettamine was identical to that of compound 26. Thin layer chromatography of pavettamine and compound 26 confirmed identical R _f values for both.

Anticancer activity

Results obtained when pavettamine was tested for activity against HeLa cancer cells showed that pavettamine was 1 Ox more toxic to HeLa cancer cells (IC50 = 0.2 μg/ml) than to human lymphocytes (IC50 = 2 μg/ml).

In addition, when HeLa and MCF cells (breast cancer cells) were exposed to 200 μM pavetamine for 48 h, 30 % cell death occurred for HeLa cells and 25% for the MCF cells. The MTT (3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide) assay (Sigma, St Louis, USA) was used to measure the cytotoxicity of pavettamine in these cell lines.

Activity in eukaryotic versus prokaryotic cells

The algal (Selenastrum capricornumtum) growth inhibition test involves exposing the unicellular algae to the toxicant for 72 hrs, under defined conditions: at a temperature of 24° C and in a test facility fitted with a cool white fluorescent light with a light intensity of ± 4000 lux. The test facility is free of vapour, odours and dust which may be toxic to the algae.

Growth inhibition is measured as a reduction in growth rate relative to the control and is determined in terms of optical density. Definitive tests (testing serial dilutions) are carried out. The percentage growth inhibition in each test is usually reported as % Effect or the 72 hr EC ₂₀ or EC ₅₀

Results showed that pavettamine (1 mM to 0.063mM) exhibited ≥ 98% growth inhibition at the concentrations used. These results suggest that pavettamine is a potent inhibitor of algal growth

Pavettamine exhibited inhibitory activity towards the growth of fungal and yeast cells (for example Penicillium expansum, Aspergillus clavatus, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa and Debaryomyces hansenii) but showed no inhibitory activity towards the growth of bacterial cells (for example Staphylococcus intermedius (3 strains), Actinomyces pyogenes, Bordetella bronchiseptica, Pasteurella haemolytica and Sphingobacterium

spritivorum). This selective inhibition of the growth of eukaryotes versus prokaryotes is a useful characteristic of the compound.

The invention accordingly extends to the use of 1 1 -diamino-6-aza-undecane- 2,4,8, 10-tetraol, any one or more of its stereoisomers or any one or more of its salts in the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of cancer.

The invention further extends to a composition for the treatment of cancer, the composition comprising 1 1 -diamino-6-aza-undecane-2, 4, 8, 10-tetraol, any one or more of its stereoisomers or any one or more of its salts.

The invention further extends to a substance or composition for use in the treatment of cancer, the substance or composition comprising 1 1 -diamino-6-aza- undecane-2, 4, 8, 10-tetraol, any one or more of its stereoisomers or any one or more of its salts.

The invention further extends to a method of treating cancer, the method including the step of administering 1 1 -diamino-6-aza-undecane-2,4,8, 10-tetraol, its stereoisomers or its salts to a person or animal in need of treatment.

The stereoisomer is preferably (2S,4R ,8R ,10S)-1 ,1 1 -diamino-6-aza-undecane- 2,4,8, 10-tetraol (1).

The invention extends further to a compound selected from the compounds 8, 9, 10, 11 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 , 22, 23, 24 and 25 and their stereoisomers.

The invention is now described by way of example with reference to the following example and the figure in which

Figure 1 shows the stereoisomers of pavettamine meeting the symmetry requirements of the molecule; and

Figure 2 shows the stereoisomers of pavettamine lacking symmetry.

The synthesis of natural pavettamine; (2S,4R8R, 10S)-1 , 1 1 -Diamino-6-aza-undecane- ( 1 ) 2.4.8.10-tetraoi

Diethyl (2S)-malate (2) (2S)-MaNc acid (100 g, 0.746 mol) was suspended in a mixture of CHCI ₃ /EtOH (3:4, 350 ml), Amberlite IFM 20 resin (H ⁺ form, 40 g) was added and the mixture was heated under Dean-Stark reflux conditions. After reaction the resin beads were removed by filtration and washed with CHCI ₃ . The washings were added to the filtrate and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. High vacuum distillation (1 15°C/1 mmHg) afforded diethyl malate (2) (132 g, 94%). [α] _D -10.6 (neat). ¹ H NMR (300 MHz, CDCI ₃ ): δ 4.449 (dd, 1 H, J 4.7, 6.0, H-2), 4.248 (dq, 1 H, J 10.9, 7.2, OCH ₂ CH ₃ ), 4.229 (dq, 1 H, J 10.9, 7.2, OCH ₂ CH ₃ ), 4.200 (q, 2H, J 7.0, OCH ₂ CH ₃ ), 3.52 (s, 1 H, OH), 2.808 (dd, 1 H, J 16.3, 4.7, H-2a), 2.751 (dd, 1 H, J 16.3, 6.0, H-2b), 1.270 (t, 3H, J7.0, Me), 1.235 (t, 3H, J 7.0, Me). ¹³ C NMR (75 MHz, CDCI ₃ ): δ 173.26S and 170.38S (C- 1 and C-4), 67.25D (C-2), 61.85T and 60.83T (2 x CH ₂ O), 38.69T (C-3), 14.00Q (2 x CH ₃ ).

Ethyl (3S)-3,4-dihydroxybutanoate (3)

BH ₃ -DMS (251 mmol, 25.1 ml) was added dropwise over 30 min. to a stirred solution of diethyl (2S)-malate (2) (46.4 g, 0.244 mol) in dry THF (500 ml). After 35 min the solution was cooled in an ice-bath for 10 min. NaBH ₄ (0.462 g, 5 mol%) was added and when the exothermic reaction subsided, the reaction was removed from the ice-bath and stirred at rt for an additional 40 min. The reaction was quenched by addition of EtOH (85 ml) and p-TsOH (2.32 g) and stirring at rt for 35 min. The mixture was then evaporated under reduced pressure on a rotary evaporator at 45 ⁰ C. The resulting liquid was dissolved in benzene-EtOH (1 :1 , 500 ml.) and concentrated. Benzene (400 ml) was added to the residue and concentrated again. This process was repeated twice more. The resulting oil was purified by column chromatography using EtOAc to afford ethyl (3S)-3,4-dihydroxybutanoate (3) (28.7 g, 79%). [α] _D -21.2 (c 2.3, CHCI ₃ ). ¹ H NMR (300 MHz, CDCI ₃ ): δ 4.1 17 (q, J 7.0, OCH ₂ ), 4.083 (dddd, 1 H, J 8.0, 6.5, 4.9, 3.4, H-3), 3.780 (m, 1 H, OH), 3.610 (dd, 1 H, J 1 1.4, 3.4, H-4a), 3.464 (dd, 1 H, J 1 1.4, 6.5, H-4b), 3.171 (s, 1 H, OH), 2.481 (dd, 1 H, J 16.3, 8.0, H-2a), 2.429 (dd, 1 H, J 16.3, 4.9, H-2b), 1.220 (t, 3H, J 7.2, Me). ¹³ C NMR (75 MHz, CDCI ₃ ): δ 172.41 S (C-1 ), 68.57D (C-3), 65.68T (C-4), 60.77T (CH ₂ O), 37.77T (C-2), 14.02Q (CH ₃ ).

Ethyl (3S)-3,4-0,0-isopropylidene-3,4-dihydroxybutanoate (4)

Ethyl (3S)-3,4-dihydroxybutanoate (3) (21.6 g, 0.146 mol) was dissolved in acetone (78 ml) and 2,2-dimethoxypropane (20 ml, 0.164 mol) and p-toluene-sulfonic acid (1.4 g, 7.4 mmol) were added. The reaction was allowed to stir for 30 min at rt and then neutralized by addition of Et ₃ N (3 ml). The solvent was removed and the residue was purified by column chromatography (EtOAc) to afford ethyl (3S)-3,4-0,0-isopropylidene-3,4- dihydroxybutanoate (4) (25.30 g, 92%). R _f = 0.70 (EtOAc). [α] _D +19.2 (c 1.4, CHCI ₃ ). ¹ H NMR (300 MHz, CDCI ₃ ): δ 4.373 (dddd, 1 H, J 7.2, 6.2, 6.2, 5.9, H-3), 4.070 (q, 2H, J 7.2, OCH ₂ CH ₃ ), 4.069 (dd, 1 H, J 8.3, 5.9, H-4a), 3.568 (dd, 1 H, J 8.3, 6.2, H-4b), 2.625 (dd, 1 H, J 15.8, 6.2, H-2a), 2.426 (dd, 1 H, J 15.8, 7.2, H-2b), 1.326 (s, 3H, (CH ₃ ) ₂ C)), 1.269 (s, 3H, (CH ₃ ) ₂ C)), 1.180 (t, 3H, J 7.2, OCH ₂ CH ₃ ); ¹³ C NMR (75 MHz, CDCI ₃ ): δ 170.46S (C-1 ), 109.05S ((CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 71.98D (C-3), 69.07T (C-4), 60.53T (CH ₂ O), 38.89T (C-2), 26.78Q and 25.42Q ((CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 14.05Q (CH ₃ CH ₂ ). HRMS (FAB): m/z 189.1 127 (M ₊ H) ⁺ ; calcd for C ₉ Hi ₇ O ₄ : 189.1 126.

(1 R,2S,5R)-(-)-Menthyl (S)-p-toluenesulfinate (6)

The powdered sodium salt of anhydrous p-toluenesulfinic acid (5) (80.0 g, 0.44 mol) was added in small portions to a solution of thionyl chloride (100 ml, 1.40 mol) in benzene (300 ml) at OºC. The reaction was allowed to reach rt and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. Excess thionyl chloride was removed by addition of benzene (200 ml) and evaporation under reduced pressure. The residue was diluted with anhydrous Et ₂ O (500 ml) (formation of a white precipitate of sodium chloride) and cooled at OºC. A solution of (-)-menthol (69.4 g, 0.44 mol) in pyridine (70 ml) was added dropwise. After the addition was complete the mixture was stirred for 1 h at rt and hydrolysed with H ₂ O (200 ml). The organic layer was washed with 10% HCI (200 ml) and saturated brine (100 ml), dried over Na ₂ SO ₄ and concentrated. The residue was diluted with acetone (200 ml), ~5 drops 10M HCI were added, and allowed to crystallise at -2OºC. After the filtration of the first crop of crystals, the mother liquor was concentrated to -50 ml, 1 drop 10M HCI was added and this was again allowed to crystallise at -2OºC. This operation was repeated 3-4 times in total. Hexane was used to dilute the increasingly viscous mother liquor to improve crystallisation. The combined

crops were finally recrystallised from hot acetone to give the pure (S)-sulfinate (6) as a white crystalline material (102.5 g, 78%). mp 108-109ºC. [α] _D ²¹ -201 (c 2.5, acetone).

(R)-(+)-Methyl p-tolylsulfoxide (7) A solution of methyl magnesium iodide [prepared from iodomethane (1 14 g, 803 mmol), and magnesium (16.0 g, 658 mmol)] in Et ₂ O (400 ml) was slowly added by cannula to a solution of (-)-(S)-menthyl-p-toluenesulfinate (6) (140 g, 475 mmol) in dry benzene (400 ml) between 0-10ºC. After addition, the mixture was stirred at rt for 2 h and then hydrolysed with saturated aq. NH ₄ CI solution (200 ml). The aqueous solution was extracted with Et ₂ O (2x400 ml). The organic layers were washed with saturated brine (200 ml), dried (Na ₂ SO ₄ ) and concentrated in vacuo. The oily residue was mixed with hot hexane until formation of a light white cloudy precipitate and crystallization occured overnight on cooling to -5ºC. The solid material was recrystallised from Et ₂ O-hexane at -5ºC affording white crystals of (7) (57.4 g, 78%). mp 75-76ºC. [α] _D ²¹ +192 (c 4.0, CHCI ₃ ); [α] _D ²¹ +146 (c 2.0, acetone).

(S(R),4S)-4,5-0,0-lsopropylidene-1-(p-tolylsulfinyl)-2-penta none (8) n-Butyllithium (1 .5M in hexanes, 96.7 ml, 0.145 mol) was added to a solution of diisopropylamine (22.1 ml, 0.158 mol) in dry THF (160 ml) at -78°C under argon. The mixture was stirred for 30 min at -78ºC) and the solution was then allowed to reach - 30ºC and (R)-(+)-methyl p-tolyl sulfoxide (7) (20.77 g, 0.135 mol) in dry THF (160 ml) was added. The solution went bright yellow at this stage. The mixture was stirred for 30 min while warming to 0ºC, after which it was cooled to -40ºC and stirred for 5 min. Ethyl (3S)-3,4-0,0-isopropylidene-3,4-dihydroxy-butanoate (4) (12.37 g, 65.7 mmol) in dry THF (160 ml) was added slowly. On completion of addition the temperature was allowed to rise to rt and the reaction mixture was stirred for an additional 2 h. The reaction mixture was quenched by addition of saturated NH ₄ CI solution and acidified with 1 M HCI to pH 6. The mixture was extracted with EtOAc (3x100 ml), and the combined organic layers were washed with water and brine and dried over anhydrous Na ₂ SO ₄ . Removal of the solvent under reduced pressure gave viscous oil that was purified by column chromatography (hexane-EtOAc 1 :9) to afford ketosulfoxide (8) (12.46 g, 64%). R _f = 0.72 (hexane-EtOAc 1 :9). [α] _D +148.9 (c 1.00, CHCI ₃ ). ¹ H NMR (300 MHz, CDCI ₃ ): δ 7.48-7.24 (m, 4H, ArH), 4.333 (m, 1 H, J 6.5, 6.3, 6.0, H-4), 4.037 (dd, 1 H, J 8.3, 6.0, H-

5b), 3.805 (s, 2H, H-1 ), 3.395 (dd, 1 H, J 8.3, 6.5, H-5a), 2.888 (dd, 1 H, J 17.1 , 6.3, H- 3b), 2.574 (dd, 1 H, J 17.1 , 6.5, H-3a), 2.355 (s, 3H, ArCH ₃ ), 1.314 (s, 3H, (CH ₃ ) ₂ C)), 1.256 (s, 3H, (CH ₃ ) ₂ C). ¹³ C NMR (75 MHz, CDCI ₃ ): δ 199.27S (C-2), 141.93S, 139.17S, 129.85D and 123.78D (ArC), 108.73S ((CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 70.90D (C-4), 68.80T (C-5), 67.68T (C-1 ), 48.82T (C-3), 26.52Q and 25.17Q ((CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 21.14Q (ArCH3). HRMS (FAB): m/z 297.1 160 (M ₊ H) ⁺ ; calcd for Ci ₅ H ₂ iSO ₄ : 297.1 161.

(S(R),2R,4S)-4,5-0,0-lsopropylidene-1-(p-tolylsulfinyl)-p entane-2,4,5-thol (9)

ZnCI ₂ (8.24 g, 60.5 mmol) was flame-dried under vacuum in a 2-necked flask and cooled and dry THF (300 ml) was added. (S(R),4S)-4,5-0,0-isopropylidene-1 -(p- tolylsulfinyl)-2-pentanone (8) (4.48 g, 15.1 mmol) in dry THF (100 ml) was added and this was allowed to stir at rt under argon for 2 h. The reaction mixture was cooled to - 78ºC. After stirring at -78ºC for 10 min, DIBALH (8.60 g, 10.8 ml, 60.5 mmol) was added slowly. The reaction was allowed to stir at low temperature for 1.5 h (TLC control) and then quenched by careful addition of saturated NH ₄ CI solution at -78ºC The reaction was allowed to warm to rt and was extracted once with Et ₂ O. The organic solvent was removed under reduced pressure and the residue partitioned between water (pH 5) and EtOAc (3x50 ml). The organic solution was washed with brine, dried (Na ₂ SO ₄ ) and evaporated to give a white solid. This material was purified by column chromatography (elution EtOAc) to afford the triol (9) (3.38 g, 75%) as a single diastereomer. Starting material (9%) was recovered. R _f = 0.33 (EtOAc). [α] _D +130.0 (c 1.2, CHCI ₃ ). ¹ H NMR (300 MHz, CDCI ₃ ): δ 7.55-7.29 (m, 4H, ArH), 4.317 (m, 1 H, J 8.2, 7.8, 4.4, 3.9, 1.6, H-2), 4.252 (m, 1 H, J 7.1 , 7.0, 5.9, 4.9, H-4), 4.064 (dd, 1 H, J 8.3, 5.9, H-5b), 3.922 (d, 1 H, J 1.6, 2-OH), 3.583 (dd, 1 H, J 8.3, 7.1 , H-5a), 3.035 (dd, 1 H, J 13.2, 7.8, H-1 b), 2.822 (dd, 1 H, J 13.2, 3.9, H-1 a), 2.397 (s, 3H, ArCH ₃ ), 1.878 (ddd, 1 H, J 14.2, 8.2, 7.0, H-3b), 1.837 (ddd, 1 H, J 14.2, 4.9, 4.4, H-3a), 1 .386 (s, 3H, (CHa) ₂ C), 1.318 (s, 3H, (CH ₃ ) ₂ C); ¹³ C NMR (75 MHz, CDCI ₃ ): δ 141.76S, 140.36S, 130.01 D and 124.02D (ArC), 109.27S ((CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 73.96D (C-4), 69.34T (C-5), 66.74D (C-2), 62.97T (C-1 ), 39.89T (C-3), 26.79 Q and 25.63Q ((CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 21 .35Q (ArCH ₃ ). HRMS (FAB): m/z 299.1317 (M ₊ H) ⁺ ; calcd for Ci ₅ H ₂₃ SO ₄ : 299.1317.

(S(R),2R,4S)-1-(p-tolylsulfinyl)-pentane-2,4,5-triol (10)

(S(R),2R,4S)-4,5-0,0-lsopropylidene-1 -(p-tolylsulfinyl)-pentane-2,4,5-triol (9) (5.05 g, 16.9 mmol) was dissolved in MeOH (150 ml) and water (40 ml) and p-toluenesulfonic

acid (0.32 g, 10 mol%) was added. The reaction was heated under reflux for 1.5 h, after which TLC indicated that no starting material remained. Et ₃ N (1 ml) was added to neutralize the acid and the solvents were removed under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in water (60 ml) and extracted with EtOAc (50 ml) to remove any starting material. The aqueous layer was then continuously extracted with EtOAc for 2 d. The EtOAc solution was dried (Na ₂ SO ₄ ) and evaporated to leave (S(R),2R,4S)-1-(p- tolylsulfinyl)-pentane-2,4,5-triol (10) (3.93 g, 90%) as an oil that solidified after drying under high vacuum. [α] _D +82.4 (c 1.0, MeOH). ¹ H NMR (300 MHz, CDCI ₃ ): δ 7.52-7.24 (m, 4H, ArH), 4.315 (m, 1 H, H-2), 3.903 (m, 1 H, H-4), 3.563 (dd, 1 H, J 1 1.4, 3.6, H-5b), 3.454 (dd, 1 H, J 1 1.4, 6.2, H-5a), 3.077 (dd, 1 H, J 13.3, 7.4, H-1 b), 2.819 (dd, 1 H, J 13.3, 4.3, H-1 a), 2.354 (s, 3H, ArCH ₃ ), 1 .768 (m, 1 H, H-3b), 1.712 (m, 1 H, H-3a); ¹³ C NMR (75 MHz, CDCI ₃ ): δ 141.94S, 139.90S, 130.1 OD and 124.18D (ArC), 71.07D (C- 4), 67.16D (C-2), 66.33T (C-5), 62.62T (C-1 ), 39.13T (C-3), 21.35Q (ArCH ₃ ). HRMS (FAB): m/z 259.1004 (M ₊ H) ⁺ ; calcd for Ci ₂ Hi ₉ SO ₄ : 259.1004.

(S(R), 2R,4S)-1-(p-Tolylsulfinyl)-5-(triphenylmethyloxy)pentane-2,4 -diol (11) 4-Dimethylaminopyridine (0.36 g, 2.96 mmol) and triphenylmethyl chloride (4.64 g, 16.31 mmol) was added to a solution of (S(R),2R ,4S)-1 -(p-tolylsulfinyl)-pentane-2,4,5- triol (10) (3.83 g, 14.82 mmol) in CH ₂ CI ₂ (60 ml) and pyridine (4.8 ml, 59.3 mmol) and the reaction mixture stirred at rt for 2 d (TLC control). The reaction mixture was washed with 1 M HCI (4x100 ml) and then with brine (100 ml). The organic layer was dried (Na ₂ SO ₄ ) and evaporated to leave a yellow, viscous oil which was purified by column chromatography (elution hexane:EtOAc 1 :4) to afford (S(R),2R ,4S)-1 -(p-tolylsulfinyl)-5- (triphenylmethyloxy)pentane-2,4-diol (11 ) (7.26 g, 98%). R _f = 0.38 (hexane-EtOAc 1 :4). [α] _D +89.3 (c 0.98, CHCI ₃ ). ¹ H NMR (300 MHz, CDCI ₃ ): δ 7.61 -7.18 (m, 19H, ArH), 4.34 (m, 2H, H-2 and OH), 4.016 (m, 1 H, H-4), 3.26 (br s, 1 H, OH), 3.095 (m, 2H, H-5), 3.017 (dd, 1 H, J 13.2, 8.0, H-1 b), 2.772 (dd, 1 H, J 13.2, 3.6, H-1 a), 2.394 (s, 3H, ArCH ₃ H, 1.690 (dd, 2H, J 6.2, 6.2, H-3); ¹³ C NMR (75 MHz, CDCI ₃ ): δ 143.69S, 141.77S, 140.38S, 130.00D, 128.55D, 127.79D, 127.04D and 124.02D (ArC), 86.66S (Ph ₃ C), 70.41 D (C-4), 68.1 OD (C-2), 67.40T (C-5), 63.04T (C-1 ), 39.37T (C-3), 21.34Q (ArCH ₃ ). HRMS (FAB): m/z 501 .2099 (M ₊ H) ⁺ ; calcd for C ₃ i H ₃₃ SO ₄ : 501 .2100.

(S(R), 2R,4S)-2,4-0,0-lsopropylidene-1-(p-tolylsulfinyl)-5-(triphen ylmethyloxy)-pentane- 2,4-diol (12)

p-Toluenesulfonic acid (25 mg) was added to a stirred solution of (S(R),2R ,4S)-1 -(p- tolylsulfinyl)-5-(triphenylmethyloxy)pentane-2,4-diol (11 ) (1.00 g, 1.997 mmol) in 2,2- dimethoxypropane (5 ml) and acetone (20 ml). Et ₃ N (1 ml) was added after 35 min and the solvent removed under reduced pressure. Column chromatography of the residue with hexane-EtOAc (1 :1 ) as eluent afforded (S(R), 2R ,4S)-2,4-0,0-isopropylidene-1 -(p- tolylsulfinyl)-5-triphenylmethyloxypentane-2,4-diol (12) (0.96 g, 89%). R _f = 0.51 (hexane-EtOAc 1 :1 ). [α] _D +25.2 (c 1 .08, CHCI ₃ ); ¹ H NMR (300 MHz, CDCI ₃ ): δ 7.42-7.26 (m, 19H, ArH), 4.085 (m, 1 H, H-2), 3.963 (m, 1 H, H-4), 3.221 (dd, 1 H, J 9.3, 5.2, H-5b), 3.140 (dd, 1 H, .7 13.2, 6.9, H-1 b), 2.961 (dd, 1 H, .79.3, 6.0, H-5a), 2.752 (dd, 1 H, J 13.2, 5.4, H-1 a), 2.399 (s, 3H, ArCH ₃ ), 1.736 (ddd, 1 H, J 12.7, 2.3, 2.3, H-3), 1.370 (ddd, J 12.6, 12.6, 12.6, H-3), 1.325 (s, 3H, (CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 1.293 (s, 3H, (CH ₃ ) ₂ C); ¹³ C NMR (75 MHz, CDCI ₃ ): δ 143.91 S, 141.62S, 140.26S, 129.78D, 128.68D, 127.73D, 126.95D and 124.41 D (ArC), 98.87S ((CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 86.52S (Ph ₃ C), 68.19D (C-4), 67.02T (C-5), 63.91 D (C-2), 63.1 1 T (C-1 ), 33.60T (C-3), 29.69Q ((CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 21.36Q (ArCH ₃ ), 19.60Q ((CHa) ₂ C). HRMS (FAB): m/z 540.2335 (M ⁺ ); calcd for C ₃₄ H ₃₆ SO ₄ : 540.2334.

(1 RS,2R,4S)-1 -Acetoxy-2,4-0,0-isopropylidene-1 -(p-tolylsulfanyl)-5-(triphenyl- methyloxy)-pentane-2,4-diol (13) (S(f?),2f?,4S)-2,4-0,0-lsopropylidene-1 -(p-tolylsulfinyl)-5-(triphenylmethyloxy)-pentane- 2,4-diol (12) (0.40 g, 0.74 mmol) was dissolved in acetic anhydride (20 ml) and sodium acetate (0.43 g, 5.18 mmol) was added. The reaction was heated at 130-140ºC in an oil bath for 4.5 h (TLC control). The acetic anhydride was removed by repeated evaporation with toluene under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by column chromatography (elution hexane-EtOAc 4:1 ), to afford (1 R S,2R ,4S)-1 -acetoxy-2,4-0,0- isopropylidene-1 -(p-tolylsulfanyl)-5-(tri-phenylmethyloxy)pentane-2,4-diol (13) (0.36 g, 83%) as a mixture of diastereo-mers. R _f = 0.36 (hexane-EtOAc 4:1 ). ¹ H NMR (300 MHz, CDCI ₃ ): δ 7.42-7.00 (m, 19H, ArH), 6.032 (d, J 5.7, H-1 ) and 5.992 (d, J 4.9, H-1 ), 4.14-3.94 (m, 2H, H-2 and H-4), 3.25 (m, 1 H, H-5b), 3.00 (m, 1 H, H-5a), 2.320 (s, 3H, ArCH ₃ ), 2.053 (s, 3H, OAc), 1.399 (s, 6H, (CH ₃ ) ₂ C); ¹³ C NMR (75 MHz, CDCI ₃ ): δ 169.77S and 169.61S (C=O), 144.00S, 138.52S, 138.42S, 134.16S, 133.72S, 129.80D, 129.69D, 128.72D, 128.31 D, 127.74D and 126.96D (ArC), 99.15S ((CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 86.50S (Ph ₃ C), 83.24D and 82.84D (C-1 ), 70.52D and 69.92D (C-2), 68.18D (C-4), 67.28T and 67.15T (C-5), 30.51T (C-3), 29.87Q and 29.77Q ((CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 21.13Q (ArCH3), 20.96Q

(CH ₃ C=O), 19.58 ((CH ₃ ) ₂ C). HRMS (FAB: m/z 582.2440 (M ⁺ ); calcd for C ₃₆ H ₃₈ SO ₅ : 582.2440.

(2R,4S)-2,4-0, 0-lsopropylidene-5-(triphenylmethyloxy)pentane- 1,2,4-triol (14) (1 R S,2R ,4S)-1 -Acetoxy-2,4-0,0-isopropylidene-1 -(p-tolylsulfanyl)-5-(triphenyl- methyloxy)pentane-2,4-diol (13) (320 mg, 0.55 mmol) was dissolved in dry Et ₂ O (30 ml) and LiAIH ₄ (44 mg, 1.10 mmol) was added. After 1.5 h (TLC control) 2M NaOH was added dropwise until a white precipitate formed. Anhydrous Na ₂ SO ₄ was added and the mixture filtered. The solid white residue was extracted twice more with Et ₂ O (50 ml) and the combined Et ₂ O solution evaporated to give a residue that was purified by column chromatography with hexane-EtOAc (3:2), to afford the triol (14) (185 mg, 80%). R, = 0.29 (hexane-EtOAc 3:2). [α] _D -28.6 (c 0.76, CHCI ₃ ). ¹ H NMR (300 MHz, CDCI ₃ ): δ 7.46-7.24 (m, 15H, ArH), 4.02 (m, 2H, H-2 and H-4), 3.602 (dd, 1 H, J 1 1.4, 3.0, H-1 b), 3.494 (dd, 1 H, J 1 1.4, 6.3, H-1 a), 3.259 (dd, 1 H, J 9.2, 5.3, H-5b), 2.997 (dd, 1 H, J 9.2, 6.1 , H-5a), 2.06 (s, 1 H, 1 -OH), 1.546 (ddd, J 12.8, 2.6, 2.6, H-3b), 1 .452 (s, 3H, (CHa) ₂ C), 1 .396 (s, 3H, (CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 1.294 (ddd, 1 H, J 12.0, 12.0, 12.0, H-3a); ¹³ C NMR (75 MHz, CDCI ₃ ): δ 144.00S, 128.70D, 128.43S, 127.73D and 126.93D (ArC), 98.67S ((CHa) ₂ C), 86.48S (Ph ₃ C), 69.52D (C-2), 68.02D (C-4), 67.26T (C-5), 66.08T (C-1 ), 29.88Q ((CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 29.81 T (C-3), 19.84Q ((CH ₃ ) ₂ C). HRMS (FAB): m/z 418.2144 (M ⁺ ); calcd for C ₂₇ H ₃₀ O ₄ : 418.2144.

(2R,4S)-2,4-0, 0-lsopropylidene-5-(triphenylmethyloxy)pentanoic acid (15) (2f?,4S)-2,4-0,0-lsopropylidene-5-(triphenylmethyloxy)pentan e-1 ,2,4-triol (14) (0.50 g, 1.19 mmol) was dissolved in acetonitrile (10 ml). To this solution were added TEMPO (13 mg, 0.08 mmol), sodium chlorite (269 mg, 2.38 mmol) in water (1 ml), buffer (7.5 ml of a 1 :1 mixture of a 0.67M NaH ₂ PO ₄ and a 0.67M Na ₂ HPO ₄ solution) and bleach solution (89 μl of a 2% m/v solution, 0.024 mmol) in 0.5 mL water. The reaction was allowed to stir overnight at 35ºC. Water (10 ml) was added and the reaction was cooled on ice prior to addition of sodium metabisulfite (400 mg). After 30 min the reaction was extracted with EtOAc (20 ml) and the organic layer washed with brine and dried (MgSO ₄ ). The material was purified by column chromatography (elution CHCI ₃ -MeOH 4:1) to afford the carboxylic acid (15) (0.49 g, 95%). R _f = 0.47 (CHCI ₃ -MeOH 4:1). ¹ H NMR (300 MHz, CDCI ₃ ): δ 7.45-7.24 (m, 15H, ArH), 4.595 (dd, 1 H, J 12.3, 3.0, H-2), 4.153 (m, 1 H, H-4), 3.361 (dd, 1 -H, J 9.3, 5.2, H-5b), 3.138 (dd, 1 H, J 9.3, 5.9, H-5a),

2.192 (ddd, 1 H, J 13.2, 2.8, 2.6, H-3b), 1.48 (m, 1 H, H-3a), 1 .476 (s, 3H, (CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 1.453 (s, 3H, (CH ₃ ) ₂ C); ¹³ C NMR (75 MHz, CDCI ₃ ): δ 173.74S (C-1 ), 143.87S (ipso C), 128.74D, 127.87D and 127.1 OD (ArC), 99.79S ((CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 86.67S (Ph ₃ C), 68.38D (C-4), 68.27D (C-2), 66.71 T (C-5), 30.77T (C-3), 29.69Q ((CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 19.63Q ((CH ₃ ) ₂ C). HRMS (FAB): m/z 433.2015 (M+H) ⁺ ; calcd for C ₂₇ H ₂₉ O ₅ : 433.2015.

(2 R, 4S) -2,4-0, 0-Isopropylidene - 1 - (p-toluenesulfonyloxy) -5- (triphenylmethyloxy) - pentane-2,4-diol (16) (2f?,4S)-2,4-0,0-lsopropylidene-5-(triphenylmethyloxy)pentan e-1 ,2,4-triol (14) (1.Og, 2.39 mmol) was dissolved in CH ₂ CI ₂ (30 ml) and 4-DMAP (1.3 eq., 0.38 g, 3.1 1 mmol) was added. The reaction was cooled to OºC in an ice bath and p-toluenesulfonyl chloride (1.25 eq., 0.57 g, 2.99 mmol) was added. The mixture was allowed to stir at rt for 1 day. Water (25 ml) was added and the mixture stirred for 30 min. The organic layer was separated, dried (Na ₂ SO ₄ ) and the solvent removed under reduced pressure. The product, a white solid, was purified by column chromatography (hexane-EtOAc 4:1 as eluant) to afford (2f?,4S)-2,4-0,0-isopropylidene-1 -(p-toluenesulfonyloxy)-5- (triphenylmethyloxy)-pentane-2,4-diol (16) (1.13 g, 83%). R _f = 0.31 (hexane-EtOAc 4:1 ). ¹ H NMR (300 MHz, CDCI ₃ ): δ 7.90-7.22 (m, 19H, ArH), 4.1 1 (m, 1 H, H-4), 4.07 (m, 1 H, H-2), 3.979 (dd, 1 H, J 10.3, 5.7, H-1 b), 3.928 (dd, 1 H, J 10.3, 5.0, H-1 a), 3.217 (dd, 1 H, J 9.3, 5.2, H-5b), 2.948 (dd, 1 H, J 9.3, 5.8, H-5a), 2.41 1 (s, 3H, ArCH ₃ ), 1.594 (ddd, 1 H, J 12.9, 2.6, 2.6, H-3b), 1 .365 (s, 3H, (CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 1.301 (s, 3H, (CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 1 .148 (ddd, 1 H, J 12.9, 1 1.9, 1 1.9, H-3a); ¹³ C NMR (75 MHz, CDCI ₃ ): δ 144.73S, 143.91 S and 133.02S (ipso C), 129.74D, 128.67D, 127.98D, 127.75D and 126.98D (ArC), 98.78S ((CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 86.52S (Ph ₃ C), 72.37T (C-1 ), 67.85D (C-2), 67.05T (C-5), 66.86D (C-4), 30.18T (C-3), 29.64Q ((CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 21 .57Q (ArCH ₃ ), 19.53Q ((CH ₃ ) ₂ C). HRMS (FAB): m/z 572.2232 (M ⁺ ); calcd for C ₃₄ H ₃₆ SO ₆ 572.2233.

(2S,4R)-5-Azido-2,4-0,0-isopropylidene-1-(triphenylmethyloxy )pentane-2,4-diol (17) (2R ,4S)-2,4-0,0-lsopropylidene-1 -(p-toluenesulfonyloxy)-5-(triphenylmethyloxy)- pentane-2,4-diol (16) (0.96 g, 1.68 mmol) was dissolved in DMF (50 ml) and NaN ₃ (2.5 eq., 0.27 g, 4.19 mmol) was added. The reaction was heated at 9OºC for 3.5 h. After cooling diethyl ether (250 ml) was added and the organic layer was washed once with saturated brine. This brine washing was extracted once with a fresh portion of diethyl ether (250 ml). The combined diethyl ether layers were washed with saturated brine (6 x

400 ml), dried (Na ₂ SO ₄ ) and evaporated under reduced pressure to give (2R ,4S)-1 - azido-2,4-0,0-isopropylidene-5-(triphenylmethyloxy)pentane-2 ,4-diol (17) (0.74 g, 100%) as a yellowish solid. The product was not purified but used in the next reaction. Rf = 0.56 (hexane-EtOAc 4:1 )]. ¹ H NMR (300 MHz, CDCI ₃ ): δ 7.42-7.15 (m, 15H), 4.1 1 - 3.99 (m, 2H, H-2 and H-4), 3.284 (dd, 1 H, J 9.3, 5.2, H-1 a), 3.254 (dd, 1 H, J 12.7, 6.5, H-5a), 3.180 (dd, 1 H, J 12.7, 4.1 , H-5b), 3.010 (dd, 1 H, J 9.3, 6.0, H-1 b), 1.605 (ddd, 1 H, J 12.9, 2.6, 2.6, H-3a), 1 .465 (s, 3H, (CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 1.421 (s, 3H, (CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 1 .301 (ddd, 1 H, J 12.9, 1 1.6, 1 1.6, H-3b); ¹³ C NMR (75 MHz, CDCI ₃ ): δ 143.97S (ipso C), 128.70D, 127.76D and 126.98D (ArC), 98.86S ((CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 86.54S (Ph ₃ C), 68.48D (C-4), 68.12D (C-2), 67.16T (C-1 ), 55.18T (C-5), 31.32T (C-3), 29.66Q ((CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 19.69Q ((CH ₃ ) ₂ C). HRMS (FAB): m/z 443.2209 (M ⁺ ); calcd for C ₂₇ H ₂₉ N ₃ O ₃ 443.2209.

(2S,4R)-5-Amino-2,4-0,0-isopropylidene-1-(triphenylmethyloxy )pentane-2,4-diol (18) (2S,4R )-5-Azido-2,4-0,0-isopropylidene-1 -(triphenylmethyloxy)pentane-2,4-diol (17) (0.65 g, 1.47 mmol) was dissolved in dry diethyl ether (40 ml) and LiAIH ₄ (59 mg, 1 .47 mmol) was added in one portion. The reaction was stirred at rt for 2 h. The reaction was stopped by dropwise addition of 2M NaOH to give a white precipitate. After addition of solid Na ₂ SO ₄ , the solids were collected by filtration and extracted twice more with diethyl ether (50 ml). The combined diethyl ether solutions were evaporated to give a white solid which was purified by column chromatography (elution CHCI ₃ -methanol 4:1 ) to afford the amine (18) (0.51 g, 84%). R _f =0.45 (CHCI ₃ -methanol 4:1 ); [α] _D -25.2 (c 1.34, CHCI ₃ ). ¹ H NMR (500 MHz, CDCI ₃ ): δ 7.45-7.19 (m, 15H, ArH), 4.020 (m, 1 H, H-2), 3.832 (m, 1 H, H-4), 3.248 (dd, 1 H, J 9.2, 5.3, H-1 a), 2.965 (dd, 1 H, J 9.2, 6.0, H-1 b), 2.700 (dd, 1 H, J 13.0, 4.2, H-5a), 2.674 (dd, 1 H, J 13.0, 6.8, H-5b), 1.553 (ddd, 1 H, J 12.7, 2.4, 2.4, H-3a), 1.439 (s, 3H, (CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 1.382 (s, 3H, (CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 1.205 (m, 1 H, H- 3b); ¹³ C NMR (75 MHz, CDCI ₃ ): δ 144.01 S {ipso C), 128.69D, 127.70D and 126.91 D (ArC), 98.56S ((CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 86.46S (Ph ₃ C), 70.32D (C-4), 68.19D (C-2), 67.30T (C-1 ), 47.23T (C-5), 31.47T (C-3), 29.94Q ((CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 19.85Q ((CH ₃ ) ₂ C). HRMS (FAB): m/z 418.2382 (M ₊ H) ⁺ ; calcd for C ₂₇ H ₃₂ NO ₃ 418.2382.

(2R,4S)-N-{(2'R,4'S)-2,4-0,0-isopropylidene-5'-(thphenylm ethyloxy)pentan-1'-yl}-2,4- 0, 0-isopropylidene-5-(triphenylmethyloxy)pentanamide (19)

(2R ,,S)-2,4-0,0-lsopropylidene-5-(triphenylmethyloxy)pentanoic acid (15) (0.44 g, 1 .01 mmol) was dissolved in dry DMF (8 ml) and 1 ,1 '-carbonyldiimidazole (0.17 g, 1 .06

mmol) was added. The reaction mixture was stirred at rt for 10 min. and then at 45ºC for 20 min. After cooling, (2S,4R)-5-amino-2,4-0,0-isopropylidene-1 -

(triphenylmethyloxy)pentane-2,4-diol (18) (0.42 g, 1.01 mmol) in dry DMF (2 ml) was added and the reaction was stirred at rt for 3 h. The reaction was diluted with diethyl ether (30 ml) and washed once with brine. This brine washing was extracted once with diethyl ether (30 ml). The combined diethyl ether solution was washed with brine (x 4), dried (Na ₂ SO ₄ ) and evaporated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by column chromatography (elution hexane-EtOAc 3:2) to afford the amide (19) as a white solid (0.69 g, 81%). R _f = 0.54 (hexane-EtOAc 3:2); [α] _D -22.6 (c θ.78, CHCI ₃ ). ¹ H NMR (300 MHz, CDCI ₃ ): δ 7.45-7.20 (m, 3OH, ArH), 6.903 (dd, 1 H, J 6.8, 5.3, NH), 4.336 (dd, 1 H, J 12.0, 2.8, H-2), 4.08-3.93 (m, 3H, H-2', H-4, H-4'), 3.512 (ddd, 1 H, J 13.6, 6.8, 3.3, H-1 'a), 3.247 and 3.233 (each a dd, 1 H, J 9.3, 5.3, H-5a and H-5'a), 3.1 10 (ddd, 1 H, J 13.5, 7.0, 5.3, H-1 'b), 2.190 (ddd, 1 H, J 13.2, 2.7, 2.7, H-3a), 1.596 (ddd, 1 H, J 12.8, 2.6, 2.6, H-3'a), 1 .490, 1.427, 1.421 , and 1.387 (each s, 3H, (2x(CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 1.38-1.13 (m, 2H, H-3'b and H-3b); ¹³ C NMR (75 MHz, CDCI ₃ ): δ 171.53S (C-1 ), 143.99S and 143.89S (ipso C), 128.70D, 127.73D and 126.95D (ArC), 99.02S and 98.70S (2 x (CHa) ₂ C), 86.53S and 86.49S (2 x Ph ₃ C), 69.45D (C-2), 68.61 D and 68.16D (C-4 and C- 4'), 67.93D (C-2 ¹ ), 67.22T and 66.90T (C-5 and C-5'), 43.43T (C- 1'), 31.69T (C-3), 31.27T (C-3 ¹ ), 29.87Q and 29.73Q ((CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 19.85Q and 19.66Q ((CH ₃ ) ₂ C). HRMS (FAB): m/z 831.4135 (M ⁺ ); calcd for C ₅₄ H ₅₇ NO ₇ 831.4135.

(2S,4R,8R, 10S)-6-aza-2,4:8, 10-di-O,O-isopropylidene- 1, 1 i-di(triphenylmethyl-oxy)- undecane-2,4,8, 10-tetraol (20) (2f?,4S)-λ/-{(2'R ,4'S)-2,4-0,0-lsopropylidene-5'-triphenylmethyloxypentan-1 '-yl}-2,4- 0,0-isopropylidene-5-triphenylmethyloxypentanamide (19) (0.266 g, 0.32 mmol) was dissolved in dry toluene (7 ml). LiAIH ₄ (72 mg) was added and the reaction refluxed for 2 h (TLC control). The reaction was quenched by addition of a few drops of water. After stirring for 15 min diethyl ether (30 ml) was added followed by solid anhydrous Na ₂ SO ₄ . The organic layer was filtered off and the solid material was extracted with diethyl ether (4x20 ml). The combined diethyl ether solutions gave a viscous oil that was purified by column chromatography (elution EtOAc-hexane 4:1 ) to give (2S,4R,8R,10S)-6-aza- 2,4:8, 10-di-O-isopropyl-idene-1 ,10-di(triphenylmethyloxy)-undecane-2,4,8, 10-tetraol (20) (204 mg, 78%). R _f = 0.35 (EtOAc-hexane 4:1 ). [α] _D -33.5 (c θ.85, CHCI ₃ ). ¹ H NMR

(300 MHz, CDCI ₃ ): δ 7.47-7.20 (m, 3OH, ArH), 4.03 (m, 4H, H-4 and H-2), 3.257 (dd, 2H, J 9.3, 5.2, H-1 a), 2.972 (dd, 2H, J 9.3, 5.9, H-1 b), 2.687 (dd, 2H, J 12.2, 7.2, H-5a), 2.612 (dd, 2H, J 12.2, 4.1 , H-1 b), 1 .593 (ddd, 2H, J 12.6, 2.3, 2.3, H-3a), 1.452 (s, 6H, (CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 1 .385 (s, 6H, (CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 1.215 (ddd, 2H, J 12.6, 1 1.6, 1 1 .6, H-3b); ¹³ C NMR (75 MHz, CDCI ₃ ): δ 144.05S (ipso C), 128.72D, 127.71 D and 126.92D (ArC), 98.59S ((CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 86.46S (Ph ₃ C), 68.31 D (C-2), 68.00T (C-1 ), 67.37D (C-4), 54.90T (C-5), 32.17T (C-3), 29.99Q ((CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 19.86Q ((CH ₃ ) ₂ C). HRMS (FAB): m/z 818.4420 (M ₊ H) ⁺ ; calcd for C ₅₄ H ₆₀ NO ₆ 818.4421.

(2S,4R,8R, 10S)-6-Aza-2,4:8, 10-di-O-isopropylidene-undecane- 1,2,4,8, 10, 11-hexaol (21)

(2S,4R,8R,10S)-1 ,10-Di(triphenylmethyloxy)-6-aza-2,4:8,10-di-O-isopropyliden e- undecane-2,4,8,10-tetraol (20) (0.286 g, 0.35 mmol) was dissolved in dry THF (12 ml) and liquid ammonia (25 ml, distilled from sodium) was added to the solution kept at -78ºC. Sodium metal (20 eq.) was added in small pieces in four batches until a permanent blue colour was obtained. After 1 h a few drops of EtOH were added to the reaction, followed 5 min later by solid NH ₄ CI (4 g). Ammonia was evaporated by gentle warming and the residue extracted with CH ₂ CI ₂ (20 ml). The CH ₂ CI ₂ was dried (Na ₂ SO ₄ ) and evaporated. The product was purified by column chromatography (elution CHCI ₃ - MeOH 4:1 ) to afford the hexaol (21) (70 mg, 60%). R _f = 0.46 (CHCI ₃ -MeOH 4:1 ). ¹ H NMR (300 MHz, CDCI ₃ ): δ 4.06 (m, 2H, H-4), 3.97 (m, 2H, H-2), 3.575 (dd, 2H, J 1 1.4, 3.4, H-1 a), 3.477 (dd, 2H, J 1 1 .4, 6.0, H-1 b), 2.732 (dd, 2H, J 12.0, 8.0, H-5a), 2.630 (dd, 2H, J 12.0, 4.0, H-5b), 2.55 (br s, 2H, 1-OH), 1.443 (s, 6H, (CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 1.384 (ddd, 2H, J 12.9, 3.1 , 3.1 , H-3a), 1 .371 (s, 6H, (CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 1.309 (ddd, 2H, J 12.8, 1 1 .1 , 1 1.1 , H-3b); ¹³ C NMR (75 MHz, CDCI ₃ ) δ 98.92S ((CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 69.39D (C-2), 67.37D (C-4), 65.93T (C-1 ), 54.52T (C-5), 30.07T (C-3), 29.94Q ((CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 19.92Q ((CH ₃ ) ₂ C). HRMS (FAB): m/z 334.2229 (M ₊ H) ⁺ ; calcd for Ci ₆ H ₃₂ NO ₆ 334.2230.

(2S,4R,8R, 10S)-6-Aza-N-(p-toluenesulfonyl)-1, 1 i-di-(p-toluenesulfonyloxy)- 2,4:8, 10-di- O, O-isopropylidene-undecane-2, 4, 8, 10-tetraol (22)

(2S,4R ,8R ^: ?,10S)-6-Aza-2,4:8,10-di-O,O-isopropylidene-undecane-1 , 2,4,8, 10,1 1 -hexaol (21) (58 mg, 0.17 mmol) was dissolved in CH ₂ CI ₂ (5 ml) and DMAP (128 mg, 1.05 mmol) and tosyl chloride (194 mg, 1.02 mmol) were added. The reaction was allowed to stir for 24 h at rt. The reaction mixture was partitioned between CH ₂ CI ₂ and water and

the organic layer dried (Na ₂ SO ₄ ) and evaporated. The product was purified by column chromatography (elution hexane-EtOAc 3:2 to hexane-EtOAc 1 :1 ) to afford the product (22) (127 mg, 92%). R _f = 0.42 (hexane-EtOAc 3:2). ¹ H NMR (300 MHz, CDCI ₃ ): δ 7.781 (d, 4H, J 8.4, ArH-3), 7.642 (d, 2H, J 8.4, ArH-3), 7.300 (d, 4H, J 8.4, ArH-2), 7.214 (d, 2H, J 8.4, ArH-2), 4.07-3.97 (m, 4H, H-2 and H-4), 3.928 (dd, 2H, J 10.1 , 5.4, H-1 a), 3.866 (dd, 2H, J 10.1 , 4.7, H-1 b), 3.278 (dd, 2H, J 14.8, 4.2, H-5a), 3.174 (dd, 2H, J 14.8, 7.2, H-5b), 2.419 (s, 6H, ArCH ₃ ), 2.386 (s, 3H, ArCH ₃ ), 1.446 (ddd, 2H, J 12.7, 2.3, 2.3, H-3a), 1 ,214 (s, 6H, (CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 1.208 (s, 6H, (CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 1.069 (ddd, 2H, J 12.7, 1 1.6, 1 1.6, H-3b); ¹³ C NMR (75 MHz, CDCI ₃ ) δ 144.82S, 143.38S, 137.29S and 132.90S (ipso C), 129.80D, 129.60D, 127.95D and 127.18D (ArC), 98.87S ((CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 72.09T (C-1 ), 67.75D and 66.67D (C-2 and C-4), 54.15T (C-5), 30.06T (C-3), 29.63Q ((CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 21.57Q (2x ArCH ₃ ) and 21.39Q (ArCH ₃ ), 19.38 ((CH ₃ ) ₂ C). HRMS (FAB): m/z 795.2412 (M ⁺ ); calcd for C ₃₇ H ₄₉ NS ₃ Oi ₂ 795.2417.

(2S,4R,8R, 10S)-6-Aza- 1, 11-diazido-2,4:8, 10-di-O-isopropylidene-N-(p-toluene- sulfonyl)-undecane-2,4,8, 10-tetraol (23)

(2S,4R,8/ ^: ?,10S)-6-Aza-2,4:8,10-di-O,O-isopropylidene-λ/-(p-toluenesu lfonyl)-1 ,1 1 -di-(p- toluenesulfonyloxy)-undecane-2,4,8, 10-tetraol (22) (1 17 mg, 0.15 mmol) was dissolved in DMF (6 ml) and sodium azide (48 mg, 0.74 mmol) was added and the reaction heated at 95ºC for 4 h. The reaction mixture was cooled, diluted with diethyl ether (50 ml) and washed with brine. The brine layer in turn was extracted once with diethyl ether (50 ml). The combined diethyl ether solutions were washed with brine (7 x 100 ml), dried (Na ₂ SO ₄ ) and evaporated to afford the azide (23) (70 mg, 89%); ¹ H NMR (300 MHz, CDCI ₃ ): δ 7.681 (d, 2H, J 8.4, ArH-3), 7.267 (d, 2H, J 8.4, ArH-2), 4.1 10 (dddd, 2H, J 1 1.6, 7.1 , 4.4, 2.7, H-4), 3.990 (dddd, 2H, J 1 1.6, 5.6, 4.4, 2.7, H-2), 3.339 (dd, 2H, J 14.7, 4.4, H-5a), 3.243 (dd, 2H, J 14.8, 7.1 , H-5b), 3.208 (dd, 2H, J 13.0, 5.7, H- 1 a), 3.158 (dd, 2H, J 13.0, 4.4, H-1 b), 2.394 (s, 3H, ArCH ₃ ), 1.460 (ddd, 2H, J 12.8, 2.6, 2.6, H-3a), 1.331 (s, 6H, (CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 1 .308 (s, 6H, (CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 1.223 (ddd, 2H, J 12.8, 1 1.6, 1 1.6, H-3b); ¹³ C NMR (75 MHz, CDCI ₃ ) δ 143.37S and 137.32S (ipso ArC), 129.60D and 127.24D (ArC), 98.97S ( (CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 68.32D (C-2), 68.07D (C-4), 55.03T (C-1 ), 54.40T (C-5), 31 .13T (C-3), 29.82Q ((CH ₃ ) ₂ C), 21.41 Q (ArCH ₃ ), 19.54Q ((CH ₃ ) ₂ C). HRMS (FAB): m/z 538.24508 (M ₊ H) ⁺ ; calcd for C ₂₃ H ₃₆ N ₇ SO ₆ 538.24472.

(2S,4R,8R, 10S)-6-Aza-1, 11-diazido-N-(p-toluenesulfonyl)-undecane-2,4,8, 10-tetraol (24)

(2S,4R ^: ?,8R ^: ?,10S)-6-Aza-1 ,1 1 -diazido-2,4:8,10-di-O,O-isopropylidene-λ/-(p-toluene- sulfonyl)-undecane-2,4,8, 10-tetraol (23) (0.104 g, 0.193 mmol) was dissolved in MeOH (5 ml) and water (1.5 ml) was added. To this mixture was added p-toluenesulfonic acid (8 mg) and the reaction was stirred at rt for 3 days. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure and the residue was purified by chromatography (elution EtOAc- hexane 9:1 ) to afford the deprotected tetraol (24) (80 mg, 90%); R _f = 0.45 (EtOAc- hexane 9:1 ). ¹ H NMR (300 MHz, CDCI ₃ ): δ 7.670 (d, 2H, J 8.2, ArH-3), 7.322 (d, 2H, J 8.2, ArH-2), 4.73 (br s, 2H, OH), 4.21 (m, 2H, H-4), 4.03 (m, 2H, H-2), 3.65 (br s, 2H, OH), 3.356 (dd, 2H, J 12.4, 4.4, H-1 a), 3.269 (dd, J 12.4, 6.4, H-1 b), 3.065 (dd, 2H, J 14.6, 7.8, H-5a), 3.037 (dd, 2H, J 14.6, 3.4, H-5b), 2.428 (s, 3H, ArCH ₃ ), 1.06 (m, 4H, H- 3); ¹³ C NMR NMR (75 MHz, CDCI ₃ ): δ 143.96S and 134.93S {ipso ArC), 129.89D and 127.39D (ArC), 70.91 D and 70.61 D (C-2 and C-4), 56.90T (C-1 ), 56.64T (C-5), 37.08T (C-3), 21.55Q (ArCH ₃ ). HRMS (FAB): m/z 458.1822 (M ₊ H) ⁺ ; calcd for Ci ₇ H ₂₈ N ₇ SO ₆ 458.1822.

(2S,4R,8R, 10S)-1, 11-Diamino-6-aza-N-(p-toluenesulfonyl)-undecane-2,4,8, 10-tetraol (25) A solution of (2S,4R,8R,10S)-6-aza-1 ,1 1 -diazido-λ/-(p-toluenesulfonyl)-undecane- 2,4,8, 10-tetraol (24) (129 mg, 0.281 mmol) in MeOH (5 ml) and 5% Pd/C (26 mg) in a small Parr reactor was stirred under H ₂ at 5 atm at rt for 4 h. The reaction mixture was filtered to remove the catalyst and the solvent evaporated to afford the diamine (25) (0.1 16 mg, 100%) that was used without further purification. ¹³ C NMR (75 MHz, CDCI ₃ ): δ 143.55S and 135.17S (ipso ArC), 129.77D and 127.42D (ArC), 70.96D (C-2), 69.17D (C-4), 56.72T (C-5), 47.26T (C-1 ), 38.45T (C-3), 21 .50Q (ArCH ₃ ). HRMS (FAB): m/z 406.2012 (M ₊ H) ⁺ ; calcd for Ci ₇ H ₃₂ N ₃ SO ₆ 406.2012.

(2S,4R,8R, 10S)-1, 11-Diamino-6-aza-undecane-2,4,8, 10-tetraol (synthetic pavettamine) (26)

(2S,4R,8R,10S)-1 , 1 1 -Diamino-6-aza-λ/-(p-toluenesulfonyl)-undecane-2,4,8, 10-tetraol (25) (63 mg, 0.155 mmol) was partially dissolved in dry dioxane (1 ml) and dry THF (15 ml) was added. Liquid ammonia (15 ml) was added and Na metal (40 mg) was added in three portions to give a blue solution. The reaction was allowed to stir at -78*1) for 1 h.

A few drops of EtOH were added until the reaction turned colourless. The reaction mixture was removed from the cooling bath, the ammonia allowed to evaporate and 10M HCI (120μl) added to the residue. The reaction mixture was filtered and the precipitate was dissolved in a small volume of distilled water and loaded on a Strata CN Phenomenex solid phase extraction column that had been prewashed with MeOH and then water. The sample was eluted with two column volumes of water, the solvent was removed under reduced pressure and two-thirds of the material was dissolved in a minimum amount of water before loading on a Sephadex G10 column (6 ml gel). The sample was eluted with distilled water. Fractions containing product eluted immediately before fractions containing salts. Combined fractions containing product were evaporated to give (2S,4R,8R,1 OS)-1 , 1 1 -diamino-6-aza-undecane-2,4,8,10-tetraol (26) (1 1 mg, 40%). [α] _D -16.3 (c 0.49, H ₂ O); HRMS (FAB): m/z 251.18449 (M ⁺ ); calcd for C ₁₀ H ₂₅ N ₃ O ₄ 251.18451. ¹ H and ¹³ C NMR data identical to that of natural pavettamine, see Table 1.

¹ H and ¹³ C NMR data were identical to those of natural pavettamine and the sign of optical rotation was minus, as for pavettamine. (2S,4R ,8R ,10S)-1 ,1 1 -Diamino-6-aza- undecane-2,4,8,10-tetraol (26) was identical to natural pavettamine (1), indicating that the absolute stereochemistry of pavettamine is that shown in structure (1).