Straightforward synthesis of novel Akt inhibitors based on a glucose scaffold

Glucose-based analogues of phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate were straightforwardly synthesised from 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-d-glucosyl bromide as protein kinase B (PKB/Akt) inhibitors. β-d-Glucuronyl diethyl phosphoramidate was identified as a promising hit through biological screening in two different cellular systems. In addition, RNA interference experiments (siRNA) provide evidence of the ability of the compound to exert biological effects specifically through Akt signalling.