Synthesis of 1-deoxynojirimycin: Exploration of optimised conditions for reductive amidation and separation of epimers

Article abstract of DOI:10.3184/174751917X15000341607489

1-Deoxynojirimycin (DNJ), which has importance with respect to sugar processing enzymes, is a synthetic target for chemists. A key step in the synthesis of DNJ is the preparation of 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-D-glucono-δ-lactam. By varying reaction parameters such as temperature, solvent and reducing reagent, improvements on previous methods are described. A novel approach for the synthesis of 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-5-dehydro-5-deoxo-D-gluconamide has been developed by using PCC as an oxidising agent. Separation of epimers permitted DNJ to be obtained in 85% yield after reduction and hydrogenolysis steps.