Rhododendrol glycosides as stereospecific tyrosinase inhibitors

Rhododendrol derivatives 3-12 have been synthesized in six steps, including aldol condensation and/or trichloroacetimidate glycosylation as the key reactions. Each derivative showed effective inhibition of tyrosinase-catalyzed oxidation processes. In particular, a series of synthetic derivatives having an R-stereogenic center at C-2 proved to be more potent than their respective epimers. In addition, the glycosylation on the phenylbutanoid scaffold increased the difference in activity between the isomers. This suggests that the sugar moiety plays an important role in eliciting their potent inhibitory activity.