Synthesis and evaluation of glycosidase inhibitory activity of N-butyl 1-deoxy-D-gluco-homonojirimycin and N-butyl 1-deoxy-L-ido-homonojirimycin.

Conjugate addition of n-butyl amine to d-glucose derived alpha,beta-unsaturated ester 4 afforded beta-amino esters 5a,b that on reduction of ester group, 1,2-acetonide deprotection, and reductive amination led to the formation of corresponding N-butyl 1-deoxy-D-gluco-homonojirimycin 2c and N-butyl 1-deoxy-L-ido-homonojirimycin 2d which were found to be selective beta-glucosidase inhibitors with an IC(50) value in millimolar range.