Deoxynojirimycin (dNM) tetrabenzyl ether is an intermediate for the synthesis of glucosylceramide synthase inhibitors such as 1-dNM, a glucose analog that potently inhibits α-glucosidase I and II.
1-Deoxynojirimycin, a potent glucose analog, inhibits α-glucosidase I and II effectively. Its derivative, N-5-Carboxypentyl-1-deoxynojirimycin, serves as a ligand for glucosidase I and II purification, utilizing carboxypentyl groups for affinity chromatography resin linkage. Furthermore, N-5-Carboxypentyl-1-deoxynojirimycin demonstrates comparable or superior inhibition of glucosidase compared to 1-deoxynojirimycin, with inhibition constants (Ki) of 0.45 µM and 2.1 µM, respectively, for pig liver glucosidase I.