Regioselectivity in the reductive ring-opening reaction of 1,2-O-benzylidene sugars

Temporary ether protecting groups at the anomeric center in complex carbohydrate synthesis

The synthesis of a carbohydrate building block usually starts with introduction of a temporary protecting group at the anomeric center and ends with its selective cleavage for further transformation. Thus, the choice of the anomeric temporary protecting group must be carefully considered because it should retain intact during the whole synthetic manipulation, and it should be chemoselectively removable without affecting other functional groups at a late stage in the synthesis. Etherate groups are the most widely used temporary protecting groups at the anomeric center, generally including allyl ethers, MP (p-methoxyphenyl) ethers, benzyl ethers, PMB (p-methoxybenzyl) eithers, and silyl ethers. This chapter provides a comprehensive review on their formation, cleavage, and applications in the synthesis of complex carbohydrates.

Facile and regioselective preparation of partly O-benzylated d-glucopyranose acetates via acid-mediated simultaneous debenzylation–acetolysis

Fully O-benzylated methyl alpha-D-glucopyranoside shows a steady order in stepwise debenzylation when it is treated with sulfuric acid in acetic anhydride. Based on the order of debenzylation, regioselective preparations of 2,3,4-tri-, 2,3-, 2,4-, 3,4-di-, and 2-O-benzyl-D-glucopyranose acetates were facilitated in greater than 80% yields. The key points of the preparative reactions were the control of the acid strength and choice of suitable substrates.

Corrected order in the simultaneous debenzylation–acetolysis of methyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-α-d-glucopyranoside

The benzyl groups of methyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-alpha-d-glucopyranoside were cleaved in the order of 6-O-Bn>3-O-Bn>4-O-Bn>2-O-Bn under acid-mediated conditions in acetic anhydride. The order is a correction of that previously reported.