Sialylexoenitols as precursors for new analogues of sialidase inhibitors

Sialic acids are involved in a plethora of important biological events; among these the most known certainly is the binding of N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) with influenza virus sialidase. The synthesis of the sialylexoenitol, a new class of sialyl derivative that was used as precursor in powerful hetero-Diels–Alder reactions to form the corresponding spiroketals is descibed. Docking calculations employing the crystallographic structure of influenza virus sialidase indicate that these scaffolds could probably interact with most of the active site residues that stabilize Neu5Ac.