The galacto-and gluco-configured imidazopyridines 4 and 5 were synthesised as potential inhibitors of synprotonating b-glycosidases. Methyl a-d-lyxopyranoside (9) was transformed into the 3,4-anhydro-b-l-riboside 16, which, upon treatment with Et 2 AlCN, gave the nitrile 17 (76 ± 85%). Reaction of 17 with the dimethyl aluminate of aminoacetaldehyde dimethyl acetal led directly to the branched chain lyxo-configured imidazole 27 (53%) that was hydrolysed to an equilibrating mixture of 4 and 28 ± 30. Oxido reduction of 27 provided the arabino-configured imidazole 42 (ca. 48% from 27). Hydrolysis of 42 led to the mixture 5/45 (63 ± 90%). antiProtonating b-galactosidases and b-glucosidases (families 1 and 2) were only weakly inhibited by 4/28 ± 30 and 5/ 45, respectively. Also the syn-protonating cellulase (Cel7A) was weakly inhibited by the monosaccharide mimics 5/45, suggesting either that monosaccharide mimics are too small to inhibit Cel7A, or that fusion isomeric tetrahydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines are not a suitable scaffold for the inhibition of syn-protonating glycosidases.Introduction. ± Selective inhibitors of anti-and syn-protonating glycosidases [1] will be useful to specify the (relative) position of the catalytic acid; they also have the potential of being highly selective. Of particular interest are complementary inhibitors of syn-and anti-protonating glycosidases possessing a common scaffold, as this would facilitate a comparative interpretation of the inhibitory activity. However, there are as yet no inhibitors selective for syn-protonating (a-or b-) glycosidases.The anti-and syn-protonating glycosidases differ by the trajectory of the proton transfer from the catalytic acid AH to the glycosidic oxygen (I and II) and the tetrahydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines of type 1 are strong (about nanomolar) inhibitors of