Synthesis of 1-O-(2'-acetoxy)benzoyl-alpha-D-2-deoxyglucopyranose, a novel aspirin prodrug.

The synthesis and characterization of 1-O-(2'-acetoxy)benzoyl-alpha-D-2-deoxyglucopyranose, a novel aspirin prodrug, are described. 3,4,6-Tri-O-benzyl-alpha-D-2-deoxyglucopyranose was synthesized by methylating the anomeric hydroxyl group of 2-deoxyglucose, benzylating the 3-, 4-, and 6-hydroxy functional grups, and cleaving hydrolytically the anomeric methyl group. Reaction of the tribenzylated sugar with the acid chloride of aspirin and subsequent hydrogenolysis of the benzyl groups resulted in the prodrug, mp 128 degrees. The compound was further characterized by elemental analysis and PMR and 13C-NMR spectroscopy. In vitro, the compound cleaved to aspirin with a half-life of 7 min at 37 degrees. Prodrug cleavage was independent of pH over the pH 3--9 range.