10.1016/S0008-6215(98)00159-1
This study focuses on the synthesis of regio- and stereospecifically C-deuterated derivatives of glycosidase inhibitors, namely 1-deoxymannonojirimycin and 2,5-dideoxy-2,5-imino-D-mannitol, using intramolecular reductive amination with deuterium gas. The researchers employed 6-azido-1,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-6-deoxy-D-fructofuranose, obtained from 6,6'-diazido-6,6-dideoxysucrose, which was derived from sucrose. Through controlled hydrogenation with deuterium over Raney nickel, they produced 3,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-1,5-dideoxy-1,5-imino-D-(5-H)mannitol, a partially protected derivative of 1-deoxymannonojirimycin. Further deprotection yielded 1-deoxy-(5-H)mannonojirimycin. Additionally, 2,5-dideoxy-2,5-imino-D-(5-H)mannitol was synthesized from 5-azido-5-deoxy-D-fructopyranose, and 2,5-dideoxy-2,5-imino-D-(5-H)glucitol was obtained from 5-azido-5-deoxy-L-sorbose. The study aimed to introduce deuterium as late as possible in the synthesis process to maximize its incorporation and minimize isotopic scrambling, achieving high yields and selective deuteration.