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Recent synthetic efforts in the construction of oligosaccharides, glycoproteins, glycolipids and other glycoconjugates containing a variety of 2‐amino‐2‐deoxy sugars have led to the development of new methods for nitrogen protection. These new nitrogen‐protecting groups have been removed from substrates using mild and often chemoselective conditions. In this microreview, the preparation, present uses, and deprotection of amino sugar derivatives employing these new agents are described. Applications of phthalimides with electron‐withdrawing groups including the tetrachlorophthaloyl (TCP), dichlorophthaloyl (DCPhth), dithiasuccinoyl (Dts), N‐pent‐4‐enoyl and N,N‐diacetyl functionalities are discussed.

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The discovery of novel 4-hydroxy-2-(heterocyclic)pyrimidine-5-carboxamide inhibitors of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) prolyl hydroxylases (PHD) is described. These are potent, selective, orally bioavailable across several species, and active in stimulating erythropoiesis. Mouse and rat studies showed hematological changes with elevations of plasma EPO and circulating reticulocytes following single oral dose administration, while 4-week q.d. po administration in rat elevated hemoglobin levels. A major focus of the optimization process was to decrease the long half-life observed in higher species with early compounds. These efforts led to the identification of 28 (MK-8617), which has advanced to human clinical trials for anemia.

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GPR40 and GPR120 are fatty acid sensors that play important roles in glucose and energy homeostasis. GPR40 potentiates glucose-dependent insulin secretion and demonstrated in clinical studies robust glucose lowering in type 2 diabetes. GPR120 improves insulin sensitivity in rodents, albeit its mechanism of action is not fully understood. Here, we postulated that the antidiabetic efficacy of GPR40 could be enhanced by coactivating GPR120. A combination of GPR40 and GPR120 agonists in / mice, as well as a single molecule with dual agonist activities, achieved superior glycemic control compared with either monotherapy. Compared with a GPR40 selective agonist, the dual agonist improved insulin sensitivity in mice measured by hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, preserved islet morphology, and increased expression of several key lipolytic genes in adipose tissue of Zucker diabetic fatty rats. Novel insights into the mechanism of action for GPR120 were obtained. Selective GPR120 activation suppressed lipolysis in primary white adipocytes, although this effect was attenuated in adipocytes from obese rats and obese rhesus, and sensitized the antilipolytic effect of insulin in rat and rhesus primary adipocytes. In conclusion, GPR120 agonism enhances insulin action in adipose tissue and yields a synergistic efficacy when combined with GPR40 agonism.