Various processes are disclosed for preparing protected epicatechin oligomers having (4&bgr;,8)-interflavan linkages. In one process, a tetra-O-protected epicatechin monomer or oligomer is coupled with a protected, C-4 activated epicatechin monomer in the presence of an acidic clay such as a mortmorillonite clay. In another process, a 5,7,3′,4′-benzyl protected or a 3-acetyl-, 5,7,3′,4′-benzyl protected epicatechin or catechin monomer or oligomer is reacted with 3-O-acetyl-4-[(2-benzothiazolyl)thio]-5,7,3′,4′-tetra-O-benzylepicatechin in the presence of silver tetrafluoroborate. In another process, two 5,7,3′,4′-benzyl protected epicatechin monomers activated with 2-(benzothiazolyl)thio groups at the C-4 positions are cross-coupled in the presence of silver tetrofluoroborate. A process is also disclosed for reacting an unprotected epicatechin or catechin monomer with 4-(benzylthio) epicatechin or catechin. The use of naturally-derived and synthetically-prepared procyanidin (4&bgr;,8)
4
-pentamers to treat cancer is also disclosed.
揭示了多种制备具有(4',8)-交互缬
氨酸连接的受保护
表儿茶素寡聚物的过程。在一种过程中,通过在存在酸性粘土(如
蒙脱石粘土)的情况下,将四重受保护的
表儿茶素单体或寡聚体与受保护的C-4活化的
表儿茶素单体偶联。在另一种过程中,通过在存在四
氟硼酸银的情况下,将5,7,3′,4′-苄基保护或3-乙酰基-,5,7,3′,4′-苄基保护的
表儿茶素或
儿茶素单体或寡聚体与3-O-乙酰基-4-[(2-
苯并噻唑基)
硫]-5,7,3′,4′-四重苄基
表儿茶素反应。在另一种过程中,两个在C-4位置激活了2-(
苯并噻唑基)
硫基团的5,7,3′,4′-苄基保护
表儿茶素单体交叉偶联,在四
氟硼酸银的存在下。还揭示了一种过程,用于将未受保护的
表儿茶素或
儿茶素单体与4-(苄
硫基)
表儿茶素或
儿茶素反应。还揭示了使用天然衍生和合成制备的(4',8)4-五聚体前
花青素来治疗癌症。