As a continuous research for the discovery of trehalose-based anti-invasive agents, we developed a convenient synthetic approach for the preparation of 6,6′-dideoxy-6,6′-bis(acylamino)-α,α-D-trehaloses. A series of trehalose-based amides were prepared through the trityl protection of the two primary hydroxyls of α,α-D-trehalose, benzoylation, the removal of the trityl protective group, mesylation, azidation, catalytic hydrogenation in the presence of hydrochloride, coupling reaction with a variety of acids, and subsequent debenzoylation and deacetylation in some cases. Compound 8b, 6,6′-dideoxy-6,6′-bis(2-hydroxybenzamide)-α,α-D-trehalose, was just as potent as the natural brartemicin against the invasion of murine colon 26-L5 cells. It exhibited no cytotoxicity on human breast adenocarcinoma MDA-MB-231 and murine colon 26-L5 cells. It can significantly inhibit the migration and invasion of the MDA-MB-231 cells. The anti-invasive effect of 8b was possibly related to its inhibitory activity on MMP-9, its suppression on the expression of MMP-9 and VEGF, and its deactivation of Akt.
