The design and synthesis of a small library of pyrrolidine iminocyclitol inhibitors with a structural similarity to 1, 4-dideoxy-1, 4-imino-d-arabitol (DAB-1) is reported. This library was specifically designed to gain a better insight into the mechanism of inhibition of glycosidases by polyhydroxylated pyrrolidines or iminocyclitols. Pyrrolidine-3, 4-diol 15a and pyrrolidine- 3, 4-diol diacetate 15b had emerged as the most potent α-glucosidase inhibitors in the ...