Total synthesis of the mollu-series glycosyl ceramides alpha-D-Manp-(1----3)-beta-D-Manp-(1----4)-beta-D-Glcp-(1----1)-Cer and alpha-D-Manp-(1----3)-[beta-D-Xylp-(1----2)]-beta-D-Manp-(1----4)-beta- D-Glcp-(1----1)-Cer

The mollu-series glycosphingolipids, O-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-(1----3)-O-beta-D-mannopyranosyl-(1----4)-O-bet a-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----1)-2-N-tetracosanoyl-(4E)-sphingeni ne and O-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-(1----3)-O-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1----2])-O- beta-D-mannopyranosyl-(1----4)-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----1)-2-N- tetracosanoyl-(4E)-sphingenine, were synthesized for the first time by using 2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-D-xylopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate, methyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-1-thio-alpha-D-mannopyranoside, benzyl O-(4,6-di-O-benzyl-beta-D-mannopyranosyl)-(1----4)-2,3,6-tri-O-benzyl-be ta-D- glucopyranoside 9, and (2S,3R,4E)-2-azido-3-O-(tert-butyldiphenylsilyl)-4-octade cene-1,3-diol 6 as the key intermediates. The hexa-O-benzyl disaccharide 9 was prepared by coupling two monosaccharide synthons, namely, 2,3-di-O-allyl-4,6-di-O-benzyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl bromide and benzyl 2,3,6-tri-O-benzyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside. It was demonstrated that azide 6 was highly efficient as a synthon for the ceramide part in the coupling with both glycotriaosyl and glycotetraosyl donors, particularly in the presence of trimethylsilyl triflate.     

Synthesis of oligosaccharides containing the X-antigenic trisaccharide (alpha-L-Fucp-(1----3)-[beta-D-Galp-(1----4)]-beta-D-GlcpNAc) at their nonreducing ends.

The "armed" methyl 2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-1-thio-beta-L-fucopyranoside was reacted with "disarmed" phenyl O-(tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1----4)-6-O-benzyl-2- deoxy-2-phthalimido-1-thio-beta-D-glucopyranoside in the presence of CuBr2-Bu4NBr complex to give phenyl O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1----4)-O- [(2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-alpha-L-fucopyranosyl)-(1----3])-6-O-benzyl-2-deoxy -2- phthalimido-1-thio-beta-D-glucopyranoside (6) as a novel glycosyl donor. The glycosylating capability of 6 was further examined using N-iodosuccinimide-triflic acid as a reagent. This led to the synthesis of a tetrasaccharide and a pentasaccharide incorporating the X-antigenic structure represented by 6.     

Synthesis of a mucin-type O-glycosylated amino acid, beta-Gal-(1----3)-[alpha-Neu5Ac-(2----6)]-alpha-GalNAc-(1----3)- Ser

Total synthesis of O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1----3)-O-[(5-acetamido-3,5-dideoxy- D-glycero-alpha-D-galacto-2-nonulopyranosylonic acid)-(2----6)]-O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1----3 )-L- serine was achieved by use of the key glycosyl donor O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1----3)-O- [methyl (5-acetamido-4,7,8,9-tetra-O-acetyl-3,5-dideoxy-D-glycero-alpha-D-galact o-2- nonulopyranosyl)onate-(2----6)]-4-O-acetyl-2-azido-2-deoxy-a lpha-D- galactopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate and the key glycosyl acceptor N-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-L- serine benzyl ester in a regiocontrolled way.     

p-Trifluoroacetamidophenyl O-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-(1----3)-O-[alpha-D-mannopyranosyl- (1----6)]-beta-D-mannopyranoside

p-Nitrophenyl 2-O-benzyl-4,5-O-cyclohexylidene-beta-D-mannopyranoside (4) was condensed with tetra-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl bromide. The resulting, protected disaccharide was converted into p-nitrophenyl O-(2,3,4-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl)-(1----3)-4-O-benzoyl-2-O- benzyl-beta-D-mannopyranoside (8), which was condensed with tetra-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl bromide to give p-nitrophenyl O-(2,3,4-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl)-(1----3)-O -[2,3,4-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-(1----6)]-4-O-benzoyl-2-O -benzyl-beta-D-mannopyranoside (9) in 75% yield. Conversion of the p-nitrophenyl group followed by deprotection then yielded the title compound, whose structure was confirmed by 1H- and 13C-n.m.r. spectroscopy.     

A regio- and stereo-controlled synthesis of beta-D-Glcp NAc6SO3-(1----3)-beta-D-Galp6SO3-(1----4)-beta-D-GlcpNAc 6SO3- (1----3)-D-Galp, a linear acidic glycan fragment of keratan sulfate I

A stereocontrolled synthesis of beta-D-GlcpNAc6SO3-(1----3)-beta-D-Galp6SO3-(1----4)-beta-D- GlcpNAc6SO3- (1----3)-D-Galp, was achieved by use of benzyl O-(2-acetamido-3,4 di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-6-O-p-methoxyphenyl-beta-D- glucopyranosyl)-(1----3)-O-(2,4-di-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-beta- D- galactopyranosyl-(1----4)-O-(2-acetamido-3-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-6-O-p-methox yphenyl - beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1----3)-2,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-beta-D-galactopyranos ide as a key intermediate, which was in turn prepared by employing two glycosyl donors, 3,4-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-6-O-p-methoxyphenyl-2-phthalimido-beta-D- glucopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate and O-(3,6-di-O-acetyl-2,4-di-O-benzyl-beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1----4)-3-O - benzyl-2-deoxy-6-O-p-methoxyphenyl-2-phthalimido-beta-D-glucopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate, and a glycosyl acceptor, benzyl 2,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside.     

Synthesis of a fully protected derivative of O-(N-acetyl-alpha-D-neuraminyl)-(2----3)-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1- ---3)-O- [(N-acetyl-alpha-D-neuraminyl)-(2----6)]-O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-alpha- D-galactopyranosyl)-(1----3)-L-serine

N-(Benzyloxycarbonyl)-O-[methyl (5-acetamido-4,7,8,9-tetra-O-acetyl-3,5-dideoxy-D-glycero-alpha-D-galact o-2- nonulopyranosyl)onate]-(2----3)-O-(2,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-beta-D - galactopyranosyl)-(1----3)-O-[methyl (5-acetamido-4,7,8,9-tetra-O-acetyl-3,5-dideoxy-D-glycero-alpha-D-galact o-2- nonulopyranosyl)onate-(2----6)]-O-(2-acetamido-4-O-acetyl-2- deoxy-alpha-D- galactopyranosyl)-(1----3)-L-serine benzyl ester was synthesized by using O-[methyl (5-acetamido-4,7,8,9-tetra-O-acetyl-3,5- di-deoxy-D-glycero-alpha-D-galacto-2-nonulopyranosyl)onate]- (2----3)-O-(2,4,6- tri-O-acetyl-beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1----3)-O-[methyl (5-acetamido-4,7,8,9-tetra-O-acetyl-3,5-dideoxy-D-glycero-alpha-D-galact o-2- nonulopyranosyl)onate-(2----6)]-4-O-acetyl-2-azido-2-deoxy-a lpha- and -beta-D-galactopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate as a key glycotetraosyl donor which, upon reaction with N-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-L-serine benzyl ester, afforded a 44% yield of a mixture of the alpha- and beta-glycosides in the ratio of 2:5.     

Synthesis of O-alpha-L-fucopyranosyl-(1----3)-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1----4)-2- acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranose (N-acetyl-3'-O-alpha-L-fucopyranosyllactosamine)

Methyl 2-O-benzyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (6) was obtained in five, good yielding steps from methyl beta-D-galactopyranoside (1). Treatment of 1 with tert-butylchlorodiphenylsilane in N,N-dimethylformamide in the presence of imidazole afforded a 6-(tert-butyldiphenylsilyl) ether, which was converted into its 3,4-O-isopropylidene derivative (3). Benzylation of 3 with benzyl bromide-silver oxide in N,N-dimethylformamide, and subsequent cleavage of its acetal and ether groups then afforded 6. On similar benzylation, followed by the same sequence of deprotection, benzyl 2-acetamido-3,6-di-O-benzyl-4-O-[6-O-(tert-butyldiphenylsilyl)-3,4 -O- isopropylidene-beta-D-galactopyranosyl]-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranoside gave the 2-O-benzyl derivative (10). Compound 10 was converted into its 4,6-O-benzylidene acetal (11). Glycosylation (catalyzed by halide-ion) of 11 with 2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-alpha-L-fucopyranosyl bromide afforded the fully protected trisaccharide derivative (13). Cleavage of the benzylidene and then the benzyl groups of 13 furnished the title trisaccharide (16). The structure of 16 was established by 13C-n.m.r. spectroscopy.     

Synthesis of the isomeric trisaccharides, methyl O-alpha-L-fucopyranosyl- (1----3, 4, and 6)-O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1----3)-beta- D-galactopyranoside

Benzylation of methyl 3-O-(2-acetamido-4,6-O-benzylidene-2-deoxy-beta-D- glucopyranosyl)-2,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside with benzyl bromide in N,N-dimethylformamide in the presence of sodium hydride afforded methyl 3-O- (2-acetamido-3-O-benzyl-4,6-O-benzylidene-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranosyl) -2,4,6- tri-O-benzyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (3). Reductive ring-opening of the benzylidene group of 3 gave methyl 3-O-(2-acetamido-3,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-beta-D- glucopyranosyl)- 2,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (4). Cleavage of the 4,6-acetal group of 3 with hot, 80% aqueous acetic acid afforded the diol (5). Compounds 3, 4, and 5 were each subjected to halide ion-catalyzed glycosylation with 2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-alpha-L-fucopyranosyl bromide to produce the corresponding trisaccharide derivatives, which, on catalytic hydrogenation, furnished the title trisaccharides, respectively.     

Synthesis from pullulan of spacer-arm, lipid, and ethyl glycosides of a tetrasaccharide [alpha-D-Glc-(1----6)-alpha-D-Glc-(1----4)-alpha-D-Glc-(1----4)-D-Glc] found in human urine; preparation of neoglycoproteins

Enzymic hydrolysis of pullulan, followed by acetylation and chromatography, gave acetylated alpha-D-Glcp-(1----6)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1----4)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1----4)-D-Glcp which, with 2-bromoethanol and boron trifluoride etherate in dichloromethane, gave the 2-bromoethyl glycoside. The reactions of the glycoside with methyl 3- mercaptopropionate , methyl 11- mercaptoundecanoate , and octadecanethiol are described, and also its hydrogenolysis to give an ethyl glycoside. The mercaptopropionate -derived, spacer-arm glycoside has been coupled to bovine serum albumin and keyhole limpet haemocyanin.     

Synthesis of beta-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-[beta-D-Glcp-(1-->6)]-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->6)-[beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->3)]-beta-D-GlcpOLauryl, an oligosaccharide with anti-tumor activity

A concise and effective synthesis of lauryl heptasaccharide 17 was achieved from the key intermediates lauryl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->4)-2,3,6-tri-O-benzoyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-2,4-di-O-benzoyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (10) and isopropyl 2,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-3-O-allyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-[2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)]-2,4-di-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-2,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-1-thio-beta-D-glucopyranoside (15). The key trisaccharide glycosyl acceptor 10 was constructed by coupling 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->4)-2,3,6-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (3) with lauryl 6-O-acetyl-2,4-di-O-benzoyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (9), followed by deacetylation. The thioglycoside donor 15 was obtained by condensation of 2,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-3-O-allyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-[2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)]-2,4-di-O-acetyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (11) with isopropyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-1-thio-beta-D-glucopyranoside (12), followed by debenzylidenation and acetylation. A bioassay of the inhibition of S180 noumenal tumors showed that lauryl heptasaccharide 17 could be employed as a potential agent for cancer treatment.     

Synthesis of four novel trisaccharides by induction of loose acceptor specificity in Gal beta 1----4 transferase (EC 2.4.1.22): Galp(beta 1----4)Glcp(X)Glc where X = beta 1----3: beta 1----4: beta 1----6: alpha 1----4.

Development of tandem mass spectral methods for direct linkage determination in oligosaccharides requires sets of trisaccharides differing only in one structural parameter. In this case, we chose the position of linkage to the reducing-end hexose. These sets of compounds would also be useful for the development of high-resolution separation techniques geared to resolve linkage types. Conventional organic synthesis of such a set could take as long as 2-5 months for each member of the set. Each trisaccharide would require 10-20 steps of synthesis. Instead, we utilized low pH to induce a loose acceptor specificity for bovine milk galactosyltransferase (lactose synthase: EC 2.4.1.22) and by this method, within 2 weeks, generated four novel oligosaccharides for NMR and mass spectral studies. The disaccharides cellobiose (beta 1----4), laminaribiose (beta 1----3), gentiobiose (beta 1----6) and maltose (alpha 1----4) acted as acceptors for EC 2.4.1.22 under these conditions. The beta 1----2-linked disaccharide, sophorose, was not commercially available and is not included in this study. The alpha-linked disaccharides were also examined, but except for the alpha 1----4 disaccharide maltose, were very poor acceptors under a variety of conditions. From these four acceptors, the following four novel trisaccharides were synthesized in micromole amounts, suitable for studies of linkage position using low-energy collision-induced-dissociation tandem mass spectrometry (FAB-MS-CID-MS), and for NMR: Galp(beta 1----4)Glcp(beta 1----3)-Glc, Galp(beta 1----4)Glcp(beta 1----4)Glc, Galp(beta 1----4)Glcp(beta 1----6)-Glc and Galp(beta 1----4)Glcp(alpha 1----4)Glc.     

Synthesis of beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->3)-alpha-L-Rhap-(1-->2)-[beta-L-Xylp-(1-->4)]-alpha-L-Rhap-(1-->3)-alpha-L-Rhap,the repeating unit of the O-antigen produced by Pseudomonas solanacearum ICMP 7942

An efficient synthesis of beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->3)-alpha-L-Rhap-(1-->2)-[beta-L-Xylp-(1-->4)]-alpha-L-Rhap-(1-->3)-alpha-L-Rhap, the repeating unit of the O-antigen produced by Pseudomonas solanacearum ICMP 7942 and its isomer beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->3)-alpha-L-Rhap-(1-->4)-[beta-L-Xylp-(1-->2)]-alpha-L-Rhap-(1-->3)-alpha-L-Rhap was achieved via sequential assembly of the building blocks, allyl 2,3-O-isopropylidene-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (2), allyl 3,4-O-isopropylidene-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (3), allyl 2,4-di-O-benzoyl-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (6), 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-beta-D-glucopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (7), and 2,3,4-tri-O-benzoyl-beta-L-xylopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (12). The process was carried out in a regio- and stereoselective manner using glycosyl trichloroacetimidates as donors and unprotected or partially protected rhamnopyranosides as acceptors in the presence of a catalytic amount of trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (TMSOTf).     

Enzymatic synthesis of β-D-Gal-(1→3)-[β-D-GlcNAc-(1→6)]-α-D-GalNAc-OC6H4NO2-p as a carbohydrate unit of mucin-type 2 core

We have established a synthetic method for obtaining β-D-Gal-(1→3)-[β-D-GlcNAc-(1→6)]-α-D-GalNAc-OC6H4NO2 -p (1), which is a carbohydrate unit of mucin-type 2 core. A β-N-acetyl-D-hexosaminidase from Nocardia orientalis catalyzed the synthesis of the desired compound 1 with its isomers β-D-GalNAc-(1→6)-β-D-Gal-(1→3)-α-D-GalNAc-OC6H4NO2-p (2) β-D-GlcNAc-(1→3)-β-D-Glc-(1→3)-α-D-GalNAc-OC6H4NO2-p (3) through N-acetylglucosaminyl transfer from N,N′-diacetylchitobiose and β-D-Gal-(1→3)-α-D-GalNAc-OC6H4NO2-p. The enzyme formed the trisaccharides 1, 2, and 3 in 14% overall yield based on β-D-Gal-(1→3)-α-D-GalNAc-OC6H4NO2-p as an acceptor substrate, and in the ratio of 44:32:24. In this way, N-acetylglucosaminyl transfer favored O-6 of the acceptor rather than O-6′, and occurred to a lesser extent at O-3′. This reaction was efficient enough to allow a one-pot preparation of the desired carbohydrate unit of mucin-type 2 core. When β-D-Gal-(1→3)-β-D-GalNAc-OC6H4NO2-p was used as an acceptor, the enzyme also synthesized three kinds of trisaccharides in the same regioselectivity with respect to O-6 and O-6′ versus O-3′ of the acceptor.     

Synthesis of beta-D-GlcA-(1----3)-beta-D-Gal disaccharides with 4- and 6-sulfate groups and 4,6-disulfate groups.

The sodium salts of the 6-sulfate 7, the 4-sulfate 10, and the 4,6-disulfate 12 of benzyl 3-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl uronate)-beta-D-galactopyranoside (5) have been synthesized. Methyl (2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-1-bromo-1-deoxy-alpha-d-glucopyran)uronate (1) was coupled with benzyl 2-O-benzoyl-4,6-O-benzylidene-beta-D-galactopyranoside (2) to yield 3. The benzylidene acetal of 3 was hydrolyzed to give benzyl 2-O-benzoyl-3-O-[methyl (2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)uronate]-beta-D-galactopyra noside (4). Compound 4 was utilized as a key intermediate to prepare the sulfated disaccharides 7,10, and 12. Direct sulfation of 4 with sulfur trioxide-trimethylamine for 2 days yielded the 6-sulfate 6. The 4,6-disulfate 11 was accessible by running the reaction under the same conditions for 14 days. The 4-sulfate 9 was obtained after protecting the 6-OH group of 4 by reaction with benzoyl imidazole to give the 6-benzoate 8, followed by sulfation under vigorous conditions. Treatment of the protected compounds 4, 6, 9, and 11 with aqueous sodium hydroxide in tetrahydrofuran gave the unprotected 5, 7, 10, and 12, respectively.     

Discovery of 6-[4-(6-nitroxyhexanoyl)piperazin-1-yl)]-9H-purine,as pharmacological post-conditioning agent

Novel purine analogues bearing nitrate esters were designed and synthesized in an effort to develop compounds triggering endogenous cardioprotective mechanisms such as ischemic preconditioning (IPC) or postconditioning (PostC). The majority of the compounds reduced infarct size compared to the control group in anesthetized rabbits, whereas administration of the most active analogue 16 at a dose of 3.8 μmol/kg resulted on a significant reduction of infarct size, compared to PostC group (13.4 ± 1.9% vs 26.4 ± 2.3%). These findings introduce a novel class of promising pharmacological compounds that could be used as mimics or enhancers of PostC.     

Synthesis of p-nitrophenyl beta-glycosides of (1----6)-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-oligosaccharides

Sequential tritylation, benzoylation, and detritylation of p-nitrophenyl beta-D-galactopyranoside gave p-nitrophenyl 2,3,4-tri-O-benzoyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (2). Reaction of 2 with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl bromide gave p-nitrophenyl O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1----6) -2,3,4-tri-O-benzoyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (4) in 94% yield. Deprotection with sodium methoxide then gave the crystalline p-nitrophenyl O-(beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1----6)-beta-D-galactopyranoside (5). Condensation of 2 with 2,3,4-tri-O-benzoyl-6-O-bromoacetyl-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl bromide (3) readily yielded the protected disaccharide p-nitrophenyl O-(2,3,4-tri-O-benzoyl-6-O-bromoacetyl-beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1----6) -2,3,4-tri-O-benzoyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (6) from which the bromoacetyl groups could be selectively removed. Condensation of the resulting material with tetra-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl bromide then yielded p-nitrophenyl O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1----6)-O-(2,3,4 -tri-O-benzoyl-beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1----6)-2,3,4-tri-O-benzoyl-bet a-D -galactopyranoside, (8), which was converted into the crystalline trisaccharide p-nitrophenyl O-(beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1----6)-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1----6) -beta -D-galactopyranoside (9) by treatment with sodium methoxide. Preliminary experiments on the interaction of p-(bromoacetamido)phenyl and p-isothiocyanatophenyl glycoside derivatives of some of these galacto-saccharides with monoclonal anti-(1----6)-beta-D-galactopyranan antibodies have been conducted.     

Synthesis of 1-D-6-O-[2-(N-hydroxyaminocarbonyl)amino-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl]-myo-inositol 1-(n-octadecyl phosphate): a potential metalloenzyme inhibitor of glycosylphosphatidylinositol biosynthesis

1-D-6-O-[2-(N-hydroxyaminocarbonyl)amino-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl]-myo-inositol 1-(n-octadecyl phosphate) was prepared to probe the reaction mechanism of the putative zinc-dependent metalloenzyme 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-phosphatidylinositol de-N-acetylase of glycosylphosphatidylinositol biosynthesis.