Based on the reported glycosidase inhibitory activities of 1,6-dideoxy-1,6-imino-L-iditol, the corresponding aryl glycosides 4-nitrophenyl alpha- and beta-L -idoseptano side 7 and 8 were synthesised as possible glycosidase substrates. Despite their inherently larger size, these septanosides were indeed shown to be glycosidase substrates, albeit weak ones. In addition, these two substrate analogues 7 and 8 also demonstrated a remarkable degree of selectivity for beta- and alpha-glucosidases, respectively. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.