New building block for polyhydroxylated piperidine: total synthesis of 1,6-dideoxynojirimycin.

(3R,4S)-3-Hydroxy-4-N-allyl-N-Boc-amino-1-pentene 10, an important precursor for the synthesis of polyhydroxylated piperidines, has been achieved as a single diastereomer without racemization via vinyl Grignard addition to N-Boc-N-allyl aminoaldehyde 9, which was derived from an enantiopure natural amino acid. Having forged a tetrahydropyridine ring scaffold 13 from 10 in 85% yield via RCM using Grubbs II catalyst, we were able to effect its stereodivergent dihydroxylation, via a common epoxide intermediate to yield a range of interesting hydroxylated piperidines, including ent-1,6-dideoxynojirimycin (ent-1,6-dDNJ) 1 (28% overall yield) and 5-amino-1,5,6-trideoxyaltrose 2 (29% over all yield) in excellent dr. To the best of our knowledge, our synthesis of ent-1,6-dDNJ 1 is the most expeditious to date.

Glycosidase inhibitory flavonoids from Sophora flavescens.

The methanol extract of Sophora flavescens showed a potent glycosidase inhibitory activity. Active components were identified as well-known flavonoid antioxidants: kushenol A (1), (-)-kurarinone (2), sophoraflavanone G (3), 2'-methoxykurarinone (4), kurarinol (5), 8-prenylkaempferol (6), isoxanthohumol (7), kuraridin (8) and maackian (9). All flavonoids were effective inhibitors of alpha-glucosidase and beta-amylase. Interestingly, lavandulylated flavanones 1-5 had strong alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activities, with IC(50) values of 45 microM, 68 microM, 37 microM, 155 microM and 179 microM, respectively. Kushenol A (1) which does not bear a 4'-hydroxy group showed selective alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Lavandulylated chalcone, kuraridine (8), exhibited IC(50) value of 57 microM against beta-glucosidase, which is the first report of a chalcone displaying glycosidase inhibition. Results showed that 8-lavandulyl group in B-ring was a key factor of the glycosidase inhibitory activities. The inhibition pattern was noncompetitive for alpha-glucosidase, whereas mixed inhibition was observed for beta-amylase.