Glucosepane is a structurally complex protein post-translational modification (PTM) believed to exist in all living organisms. Research in humans suggests that glucosepane plays a critical role in the pathophysiology of both diabetes and human aging; yet comprehensive biological investigations of this 'metabolite have been 'greatly hindered by a scarcity of chemically homogeneous material available for study. Glucosepane possesses a unique chemical structure that incorporates a surprising, never-before-prepared non-aromatic tautomer of imidazole (hereafter termed an "iso-imidazole"), rendering it a challenging target for chemical synthesis. In this application, the inventors report the first total synthesis of glucosepane, enabled by the development of a novel one-pot method for preparation of the iso-imidazole core. The synthesis of the present invention is concise (8-steps starting from commercial materials), convergent, high-yielding (12% overall), and enantioselective. These results should prove useful to the art and practice of heterocyclic chemistry, and critical for the study of glucosepane and its role in human health and disease, especially the treatment of diabetic disorders or its impact on aging processes. Methods of synthesis, compounds obtained therefrom, pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treatment provide embodiments of the present invention.
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