An expeditious synthesis of pentosidine, an advanced glycation end product

The chemical synthesis of pentosidine (1), an advanced glycation end product, was achieved via the asymmetric alkylation of the chiral schiff base derived from (+)-2-hydroxy-3-pinanone ((+)-HyPN) and glycine tert-butyl ester, the mercury salt mediated intramolecular guanylation, and the regioselective alkylation of imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine ring. This reliable synthetic achievement will promise availability of pentosidine (1) in quantities. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.