No abstract

Alpha rules: A thiourea acts as an efficient organocatalyst for the glycosylation of protected galactals to form oligosaccharides containing a 2-deoxymonosaccharide moiety. The reaction is highly stereoselective for α-linkages and proceeds by way of a syn-addition mechanism.

No abstract

A practical approach has been developed to convert glucals and rhamnals into disaccharides or glycoconjugates with high α-selectivity and yields (77–97 %) using a trans-fused cyclic 3,4-O-disiloxane protecting group and TsOH⋅H2O (1 mol %) as a catalyst. Control of the anomeric selectivity arises from conformational locking of the intermediate oxacarbenium cation. Glucals outperform rhamnals because the C6 side-chain conformation augments the selectivity.