An endoglucanase from Humicola insolens has been used to glycosylate a rang
e of alkenyl beta-D-C-glucopyranosides with beta-lactosyl fluoride. The res
ulting trisaccharides have been subjected to the action of a commercial bet
a-galactosidase to form alkenyl beta-C-cellobiosides. Oxidation of these ha
s given a range of epoxyalkyl beta-C-cellobiosides, putative inhibitors of
cellobiohydrolases. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.