| Abstract |
A straightforward and efficient synthetic route to a new class of glycosidase inhibitors containing an oxazole-2(3H)-thione moiety has been devised. The approach involves the formation of -hydroxy ketones, which, after condensation with thiocyanic acid, leads to the formation of the heterocycle. By exploiting the ability of the nitrogen atom of oxazoline-2-thione precursors to act as nucleophiles in intramolecular addition, castanospermine analogues could be readily prepared in good overall yields. Glycosidase inhibitory activity compared to oxazolidinethione analogues showed a strong influence of the double bond, for example with pseudoiminosugar 19, by suppressing -glucosidase inhibition and introducing, to a moderate level, -glucosidase inhibitory activity. Reactivities showed the propensity of oxazole-2(3H)-thiones - especially when fused on carbohydrate frames - to convert into 1,3-oxazolidine-2-thione aminals through nucleophilic addition to the double bond, leading to unexpected tricyclic structure 21. |
