Synthesis and biological evaluation of α-1-C-4′-arylbutyl-l-arabinoiminofuranoses, a new class of α-glucosidase inhibitors

A series of α-1-C-4′-arylbutyl-l-arabinoiminofuranoses 3 with functional groups attached to the phenyl ring, which are potential α-glycosidase inhibitors, was designed and synthesized by using a Negishi cross-coupling reaction as the key reaction. Arylbutyl derivatives 3a-e showed potent inhibitory activities against intestinal maltase. Among them, difluorophenylbutyl derivative 3e showed good inhibition activities against intestinal isomaltase and sucrase as compared to those of 1 and commercial drugs.