Asymmetric total synthesis of phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate and 4-phosphate derivatives

New asymmetric syntheses of phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PtdIns(3)P) and phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PtdIns(4)P) derivatives are described. Key intermediates were used to prepare diacylglyceryl moieties with dibutyryl, dioctanoyl, and dihexadecanoyl chains. In addition, a modified route provided PtdIns(3)P and PtdIns(4)P triesters with P-1-linked aminopropyl groups for preparation of affinity probes. The synthesis of the inosityl precursor employed a dibutyltin oxide-mediated p-methoxybenzyl (PMB) etherification to give either the 2-PMB- or the 3-PMB-protected glucopyranosides. The Ferrier rearrangement was used to convert suitably protected glucose derivatives to enantiomerically pure, differentially protected D-myo-inositol key intermediates. A versatile phosphoramidite reagent was employed to allow synthesis of PtdInsP(n), derivatives with diacylglyceryl moieties of different chain lengths.