This technology includes the development and use of small molecules that inhibit O-linked beta-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) transferase (OGT) for a variety of pathologies, including Alzheimer's disease, cancer, cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders the treatment of cancer and as a potential antiviral. OGT is a ubiquitous enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) to the serine or threonine residues of nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins. The addition of GlcNAc to proteins is a similar post-translational modification as phosphorylation and has been described to occur thousands of proteins.