Patent ID: 7235533

Claim:
A compound represented by the general formula: X-α1,6-cyclitol wherein: X represents a sugar residue; the sugar residue is substituted with between one and four groups, and the cyclitol is selected from the group consisting of myo-inositol, chiro-inositol and pinitol said between one and four groups being independently selected from: (a) a phosphoryl group having a formula selected from those consisting of —O—P(O)(OH) 2 , —O—P(S)(OH) 2 , —O—P(O)(OR) 2 , —O—P(S)(OR) 2 , —O—P(O)OHR, —O—P(S)OHR, —O—P(O)OR 1 R 2 , —O—P(S)OR 1 R 2 , —O—P(S)(OH)(SH), and cyclic phosphate; (b) a phosphorus-containing group having a formula selected from those consisting of —O—P(OR)—NR 1 R 2 and —O—P(O)(OR)—NR 1 R 2 ; (c) a sulphur-containing group having a formula selected from those consisting of —O—S(O)(OH), —SH, —SR, —S(—O)—R, —S(O) 2 R, RO—S(O) 2 − , —O—SO 2 NH 2 , —O—SO 2 R 1 R 2 or —NHSO 2 NH 2 ; (d) an amino or substituted amino group having a formula selected from those consisting of —NR 1 R 2 , —NHCOR, —NH—O—COR, —NHSO 3 − , —NHSO 2 R, —N(SO 2 R) 2 , —NH—C(═NH)NH 2 , —NH—CO—NR 1 R 2 and —NH—C(S)—NH 2 ; (e) a substituted hydroxy group represented by the formula —OR 3 , where R 3 is C 1-10 unsubstituted akyl or C 1-10 fluoro-substituted alkyl, alkoxyalkyl, aryloxyalkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenylalkyl in which the alkyl group is unsubstituted alkylene, cycloalkyl in which the cycloalkyl group has 3 to 7 carbon atoms, —OCOR, aryl, heteroaryl, acetal, or said substituted groups comprise two hydroxyl groups that are joined to form a ketal; (f) halogen substituents fluorine or chlorine; (g) hydrogen forming a deoxy sugar; wherein R, R 1 , and R 2 are independently hydrogen or C 1-10 unsubstituted alkyl or C 1-10 fluoro-substituted alkyl or aryl; or a derivative of the compound, said derivative selected from the group consisting of coordination complexes with metal ions, esters, free acids or bases, hydrates or protecting groups.