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Bi- and tricyclic compounds were synthesized starting from fructose. The different hydroxyl groups present in fructose were exploited in the formation of a number of conformationally constrained sugar-based scaffolds, including azido acids. Introduction of an azido group and carboxy terminus into different bicyclic iodo ethers, allowed the synthesis of different conformationally constrained azido acids. Conformational analysis of compounds 10, 11, 17, and 20 by NMR experiments assisted by molecular mechanics, allowed the determination of the distances between the relevant functional groups, that is the azido and carboxy functionalities.

The polyfunctionality and conformational rigidity of carbohydrates make this class of compounds ideal scaffolds for the production of sortiments1 of bioactive compounds. Examples of carbohydrate-derived peptidomimetics of biological interest, such as somatostatin agonists and integrin antagonists, are presented. In order to have access to solid phase supported sortiments of compounds, orthogonally protected or unprotected carbohydrates were linked to polymers and reacted in the solid phase employing different regioselective strategies. Original bicyclic and tricyclic glycidic scaffolds were easily obtained starting from natural sugars such as D-arabinose and D-fructose. Manipulation of these conformationally blocked compounds afforded different carbohydrate-based derivatives, among which azidoacids are useful precursors of β-turn peptidomimetics.