Cobalt-mediated solid phase synthesis of 3-O-alkynylbenzyl galactosides and their evaluation as galectin inhibitors

Methyl β-d-galactoside was converted to the corresponding 3,4-O-stannylene acetal, which was selectively benzylated with 3-iodobenzyl bromide and coupled to a polymer-bound propargylic ether via a Sonogashira reaction. The polymer-bound carbohydrate substrate was cleaved from the resin with different carbon nucleophiles in a cobalt-mediated Nicholas reaction. The product 3-O-alkynylbenzyl galactosides were screened towards galectin-1, -3, -7, -8N and -9N in a competitive fluorescence polarisation assay. Particularly potent inhibitors were identified against galectin-7 with affinity enhancements up to one order of magnitude due to the 3-O-alkynylbenzyl moiety.