1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition reactions on carbohydrate-based templates: synthesis of spiro-isoxazolines and 1,2,4-oxadiazoles as glycogen phosphorylase inhibitors

1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition of aryl nitrile oxides to benzyl/acetyl-protected exo-glucals and to a benzoylated glucosyl cyanide led in high yield to spiro-isoxazolines and to 3-aryl-5-glucosyl-1,2,4-oxadiazoles, respectively. The choice of the protective groups was important to the outcome of the cycloaddition and for the deprotection of the adducts. Cleavage of the ester protecting groups (acetyl, benzoyl) provided water-soluble spiro-isoxazolines and 3-aryl-5-glucosyl-1,2,4-oxadiazoles, evaluated as glycogen phosphorylase inhibitors. Preliminary tests showed IC₅₀ values in the μM range.