The synthesis of complex oligosaccharides is often hindered by a lack of knowledge on the reactivity and selectivity of their constituent building blocks. We investigated the reactivity and selectivity of 2-azidofucosyl (FucN3) donors, valuable synthons in the synthesis of 2-acetamido-2-deoxyfucose (FucNAc) containing oligosaccharides. Six FucN3 donors, bearing benzyl, benzoyl, or tert-butyldimethylsilyl protecting groups at the C3-O and C4-O positions, were synthesized, and their reactivity was assessed in a series of glycosylations using acceptors of varying nucleophilicity and size. It was found that more reactive nucleophiles and electron-withdrawing benzoyl groups on the donor favor the formation of β-glycosides, while poorly reactive nucleophiles and electron-donating protecting groups on the donor favor α-glycosidic bond formation. Low-temperature NMR activation studies of Bn- and Bz-protected donors revealed the formation of covalent FucN3 triflates and oxosulfonium triflates. From these results, a mechanistic explanation is offered in which more reactive acceptors preferentially react via an SN2-like pathway, while less reactive acceptors react via an SN1-like pathway. The knowledge obtained in this reactivity study was then applied in the construction of α-FucN3 linkages relevant to bacterial saccharides. Finally, a modular synthesis of the Staphylococcus aureus type 5 capsular polysaccharide repeating unit, a trisaccharide consisting of two FucNAc units, is described.

The synthesis of the Staphylococcus aureus strain M capsular polysaccharide repeating unit is reported. A postglycosylation oxidation strategy was utilized for the construction of the α-galactosaminuronic acid linkages, relying on a stereoselective 2-azido-4,6-O-di-tert-butylsilylidene galactopyranoside donor, for which the selectivity was assessed by model glycosylations. The α-fucosamine linkage was installed stereoselectively, using a reactive 2-azidofucosyl donor. An unexpected glycosidic bond cleavage during the TEMPO/PhI(OAc)2-mediated oxidation of a disaccharide intermediate was circumvented by a TEMPO/PhI(OAc)2–Pinnick oxidation protocol.

The relative reactivity of glucuronic acid esters was established in a series of competition experiments, in which two thioglucoside and/or thioglucuronic acid ester donors competed for a limited amount of activator (NIS-TfOH). Although glucuronic acid esters are often considered to be of very low reactivity, the series of competition reactions revealed that the reactivity of the glucuronic acid esters studied is sufficient to provide productive glycosylation reactions. The latter is illustrated in the synthesis of two Streptococcus pneumoniae trisaccharides, in which the applicability of the two similarly protected frame-shifted thiodisaccharide donors, Glc-GlcA and GlcA-Glc, were compared. The Glc-GlcA disaccharide, featuring the glucuronic acid donor moiety, proved to be the most productive in the assembly of a protected S. pneumoniae trisaccharide.

The reactivity and stereoselectivity of a galacturonic acid 3,6‐lactone thioglycosyl donor, previously described as a highly reactive glycosylating agent, has been investigated by using a series of competition experiments and condensation reactions with different thiophilic activator systems. It is revealed that the relative reactivity of the thioglycosides depends on the activator system used and that p‐nitrophenylsulfenyl triflate shows overall attenuated reactivity differences with respect to the commonly used N‐iodosuccinimide/triflic acid promoter system. With respect to the stereoselectivity of the studied galacturonic acid 3,6‐lactone thioglycosyl donor, it is revealed that a preactivation‐based glycosylation system gives rise to α‐selective glycosylation, whereas an in situ activation protocol leads to the formation of the β‐product with good selectivity. It is hypothesized that these opposingstereoselectivities are the result of different product‐forming intermediates. Where preactivation of the donor leads to the formation of an intermediate β‐triflate, which is substituted in a concerted fashion to provide the α‐product, a 3H4 oxocarbenium ion like species is substituted in the in situ activation experiment to provide the β‐linked product.

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