Synthesis of iminoalditol analogues of galactofuranosides and their activities against glycosidases

Iminoalditol analogues of galactofuranosides were synthesized from 1-C-(2′-oxo-propyl)-1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-d-galactosides and different amines by reductive amination, followed by removal of protecting groups. The activity of these compounds against galactosidases and other glycosidases was investigated. The best inhibitor against β-galactosidase (bovine liver) is a diastereomeric mixture of an iminoalditol (10h), which contains a hydrophobic hexadecyl aglycon (R = C16H33), whereas no significant inhibitory activity was observed with compounds having a hydrophilic aglycon. Surprisingly, activation of α-galactosidase (coffee bean) by 10h was also observed. Because these results were obtained from a mixture of iminoalditols, the inhibition and activation of glycosidases could result from different diastereomers.

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