Tripodal cyclohexane derivatives and their use as carbohydrate receptors

1. A compound according to formula (I)

wherein,

each Z is the same and is a substituted or unsubstituted N-heteroaromatic single- or multiple-ring selected from the group of pyridine, pyrazine, pyrimidine, pyridazine, imidazole, pyrrole, oxazole, isooxazole, triazine, thiazole, indazole, purine, quinoline, isoquinoline, quinoxaline, quinazoline, cinnoline, benzoxazole, benzisooxazole, and benzothiazole,

each A is a direct bond between the cyclohexane ring and Z, and

the N-heteroaromatic ring is attached directly to the cyclohexane ring through a carbon atom that is in adjacent position to a nitrogen heteroatom in the N-heteroaromatic ring.

2. The compound according to claim 1 wherein the compound is a substantially pure cis stereoisomer.

3. The compound according to claim 1 , wherein Z is an N-heteroaromatic single-ring.

4. The compound according to claim 1 , wherein Z is an N-heteroaromatic multiple-ring.

5. The compound according to claim 1 wherein Z is selected from the group consisting of pyridine, pyrazine, pyrimidine, pyridazine, imidazole, pyrrole, oxazole, isooxazole, triazine, and thiazole comprising one to four substituents independently selected from the group consisting of

—COO—R 1 where R 1 for each substituent is independently —H or a C1 to C18 hydrocarbon that is saturated or unsaturated;

-(hydrocarbon) n -R 2 where for each substituent the hydrocarbon is saturated or unsaturated, n is an integer from 0 to 20, and R 2 is independently —OH, —CH 3 , or —COOH; and

—CN.

6. The compound according to claim 1 , wherein Z is selected from the group consisting of indazole, purine, quinoline, isoquinoline, quinoxaline, quinazoline, cinnoline, benzoxazole, benzisooxazole, and benzothiazole comprising one to six substituents independently selected from the group consisting of

—COO—R 1 where R 1 for each substituent is independently —H or a C1 to C18 hydrocarbon that is saturated or unsaturated;

-(hydrocarbon) n -R 2 where for each substituent the hydrocarbon is saturated or unsaturated, n is an integer from 0 to 20, and R 2 is independently —OH, —CH 3 , or —COOH; and

—CN.

7. The compound according to claim 1 wherein the compound is

1,3,5-tris-pyrazin-2-yl cyclohexane;

1,3,5-tris-pyrimidin-2-yl cyclohexane;

1,3,5-tris[1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]cyclohexane;

1,3,5-tris-pyridazin-3-yl cyclohexane;

1,3,5-tris-imidazol-2-yl cyclohexane;

1,3,5-tris-pyridin-2-yl cyclohexane;

1,3,5-tris-(4-cyano)pyridin-2-yl cyclohexane;

1,3,5-tris-(4-carboxylic acid)pyridin-2-yl cyclohexane;

1,3,5-tris-(4-ethyl ester)pyridin-2-yl cyclohexane;

1,3,5-tris-(4-ethyl-2-acetamido)pyridin-2-yl cyclohexane;

1,3,5-tris-(4-methyl)pyridin-2-yl cyclohexane;

1,3,5-tris-(4-methoxy)pyridin-2-yl cyclohexane;

1,3,5-tris-(4-amino)pyridin-2-yl cyclohexane;

1,3,5-tris-(4-cyano-6-(2-hydroxyethylamino))pyridin-2-yl cyclohexane;

1,3,5-tris-(4-cyano-6-(3-hydroxypropylamino))pyridin-2-yl cyclohexane;

1,3,5-tris-(4-cyano-6-(N-(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino)-pyridin-2-yl cyclohexane;

1,3,5-tris-(3,5-methoxy-4-cyano-6-(2-hydroxyethylamino))pyridin-2-yl cyclohexane;

1,3,5-tris-(3,5-methoxy-4-cyano-6-(3-hydroxypropylamino))pyridin-2-yl cyclohexane;

1,3,5-tris-(3,5-methoxy-4-cyano-6-(N-(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino)-pyridin-2-yl cyclohexane;

1,3,5-tris-(4-carboxylic acid-6-(2-hydroxyethylamino))pyridin-2-yl cyclohexane;

1,3,5-tris-(4-carboxylic acid-6-(3-hydroxypropylamino))pyridin-2-yl cyclohexane;

1,3,5-tris-(4-carboxylic acid-6-(N-(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino)-pyridin-2-yl cyclohexane;

1,3,5-tris-(4-methyl-6-(2-hydroxyethylamino))pyridin-2-yl cyclohexane;

1,3,5-tris-(4-methyl-6-(3-hydroxypropylamino))pyridin-2-yl cyclohexane;

1,3,5-tris-(4-methyl-6-(N-(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino)-pyridin-2-yl cyclohexane;

1,3,5-tris-(4-methoxy-6-(2-hydroxyethylamino))pyridin-2-yl cyclohexane;

1,3,5-tris-(4-methoxy-6-(3-hydroxypropylamino))pyridin-2-yl cyclohexane;

1,3,5-tris-(4-methoxy-6-(N-(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino)-pyridin-2-yl cyclohexane;

1,3,5-tris-(4-amino-6-(2-hydroxyethylamino))pyridin-2-yl cyclohexane;

1,3,5-tris-(4-amino-6-(3-hydroxypropylamino))pyridin-2-yl cyclohexane; or

1,3,5-tris-(4-amino-6-(N-(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino)-pyridin-2-yl cyclohexane.

8. A method of making a compound according to formula (I) of claim 1 , said method comprising:

reacting, via tri-directional Minisci reaction, 1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid cyclohexane and a substituted or unsubstituted N-heteroaromatic compound (H—Z) where Z is defined as in claim 1 .

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein the 1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid cyclohexane is a substantially pure cis stereoisomer.

10. The method according to claim 8 wherein said tri-directional Minisci reaction comprises a single-step, tri-directional Minisci reaction between 1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid cyclohexane and H—Z, and the one or more substituents, when present, is selected from the group of

—COO—R 1 where R 1 for each substituent is independently —H or a C1 to C18 hydrocarbon that is saturated or unsaturated, and

—CN.

11. A compound according to formula (II):

wherein,

each Z is the same and is a substituted or unsubstituted N-heteroaromatic single or multiple-ring;

each A is the same, and is a direct bond between the cyclohexane ring and Z;

the peptide comprises 2 to 5 amino acids, and at least one of the amino acids comprises a thiol group or an unsaturated hydrocarbon sidechain; and

Q is H.

12. A method of detecting the presence of a carbohydrate in a sample comprising:

providing a sample containing a carbohydrate of interest;

exposing the sample to a compound according to claim 1 ; and

determining whether the compound binds to the carbohydrate of interest.

13. A compound according to formula (I)

wherein,

each A is a direct bond between the cyclohexane ring and Z;

each Z is the same and is a substituted or unsubstituted N-heteroaromatic single- or multiple-ring selected from the group of pyridine, pyrazine, pyrimidine, pyridazine, imidazole, pyrrole, oxazole, isooxazole, triazine, thiazole, indazole, purine, quinoline, isoquinoline, quinoxaline, quinazoline, cinnoline, benzoxazole, benzisooxazole, and benzothiazole, comprising one or more substituents independently selected from the group consisting of

—COO—R 1 where R 1 for each substituent is independently —H or a C1 to C18 hydrocarbon that is saturated or unsaturated,

-(hydrocarbon) n -R 2 where for each substituent the hydrocarbon is saturated or unsaturated, n is an integer from 0 to 20, and R 2 is independently —OH, —CH 3 , or —COOH, and

—CN; and

the N-heteroaromatic ring is attached directly to the cyclohexane ring through a carbon atom that is in adjacent position to a nitrogen heteroatom in the N-heteroaromatic ring.