New 1-amino-1-deoxy- and 2-amino-2-deoxy-polyhydroxyazepanes: synthesis and inhibition of glycosidases

Eight new seven-membered ring iminoalditols, displaying an amino group and a hydroxymethyl group on the ring, have been synthesized from D-arabinose via epoxidation of a protected azacycloheptene and subsequent nucleophilic opening. Three of them show a potent glycosidase inhibition on amyloglucosidase and, to a lesser extend, on alpha-L-fucosidase. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.