Glucopyranose Spirohydantoins: Specific Inhibitors of Glycogen Phosphorylase

Abstract

A short synthesis of the spirohydantoin of glucopyranose 1β [a potent and specific inhibitor of glycogen phosphorylase], together with its inactive anomer 1α, from a readily available heptonolactone is described; this is the first synthesis of a spirohydantoin of a pyranose in which the pyranose ring is formed after the hydantoin ring.