A fast method for the simultaneous detection of different glycosidolytic ac
tivities in commercially available enzyme preparations and crude culture fi
ltrates was found in using, as substrate, a mixture of different glycosyl f
luorides and F-19 NMR spectroscopy as a screening technique. Accompanying s
tudies regarding the hydrolytic stability of these fluorides in various buf
fer systems, as well as conditions of their long-term storage, were carried
out. A simple procedure for the preparation of beta-D-mannopyranosyl fluor
ide in gram quantities is given. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights
reserved.