SYNTHESIS OF DERIVATIVES OF MURAMIC ACID AND C-1 HOMOLOGATED ALPHA-D-GLUCOSE AS POTENTIAL INHIBITORS OF BACTERIAL TRANSGLYCOSYLASE

Phosphate derivatives of muramic acid, incorporating a lipid-like grou p, have been synthesised as potential inhibitors of bacterial transgly cosylase. The Lewis acid catalysed addition of unsaturated alkyl silan es to methyl alpha-D-glucopyranoside, followed by an oxidative cleavag e, has been used to provide a route to C-1 homologues of glucose. Conv ersion of alpha-D-glucose methanephosphonic acid to esters derived fro m lipid-like groups is also described.