Synthesis of 1-(D-glucopyranosyl)-1,2,3-triazoles and their evaluation as glycogen phosphorylase inhibitors.

1-(D-Glucopyranosyl)-1,2,3-triazoles were prepared from per-O-acetylated alpha- and beta-D-glucopyranosyl azides as well as per-O-benzoylated (beta-D-gluco-hept-2-ulopyranosylazide)onamide and onic acid methylester by using azide-alkyne cycloaddition catalysed by in situ generated Cu(I) under aqueous conditions. The O-acyl protecting groups were removed by the Zemplén protocol. The test compounds were assayed against rabbit muscle glycogen phosphorylase b to show that the beta-D-glucopyranosyl derivatives were superior inhibitors as compared to the two other series of triazoles.