Chemical modification of the β-glucocerebrosidase inhibitor N-octyl-β-valienamine:: Synthesis and biological evaluation of 4-epimeric and 4-O-(β-D-galactopyranosyl) derivatives

N-Octyl-beta-valienemine (1), a potent beta-glucocerebrosidase inhibitor, was chemically transformed into two biologically interesting compounds: the 4-epimer 2, beta-galacto-type N-octyl-valienamine, and the 4-O-(beta-D-galactopyranosyl) derivative 3, a carba-lactosylceramide analogue. The former, interestingly, could be demonstrated to act as a very effective inhibitor (IC50=0.3 muM) of human beta-galactosidase. The latter exhibited moderate inhibitory activity (IC50=20 muM) against beta-glucocerebrosidase (mouse liver). (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.