A series of 1-
N-iminosugars were synthesized to supplythe need for glycosidase inhibitors that areboth highly potent and selective for
-glycosidases. Designed onthe basis of the transition-state model of the
-glucosidase reaction, these iminosugar inhibitors differ from thecurrently available inhibitors in possessinga nitrogen atom at the anomeric position of the pyranose ring, therebygenerating a positive charge on theanomeric position rather than on the ring oxygen of the sugar.Their syntheses, starting with a readily availablecarbohydrate derivative, involve (i) introduction of an aminofunctionality as an azido group, (ii) formation ofa 1-
N-iminopyranose ring with reductive amination, and (iii)stereoselective introduction of a hydroxymethylor methyl group and were accomplished in a highly stereoselective andefficient manner. The inhibitorypotencies of the 1-
N-iminosugars were evaluated againstseveral
- and
-glycosidases, and they were foundto be extremely potent and highly specific against the corresponding
-glycosidases, with
Ki values inthenanomolar range.