A pyranose ring contraction
of ethyl 1-thio-β-d-galactopyranosides has been discovered
that proceeds with retention of aglycon under mildly acidic conditions
(aq TFA in CH2Cl2). Key factors for success
of this rearrangement are the presence of bulky silyl (TIPS or TBDPS)
substituents at both O-2 and O-3 and a free hydroxy
group at C-4 (derivatives with acid-labile protective groups at O-4
will also engage in this reaction). The rearrangement cleanly proceeds
for 2,3-di-O-TIPS derivatives with two hydroxy groups
at C-4 and C-6, acid-labile TES groups at O-4 and O-6, or one acyl
substituent (Bz, ClAc) at O-6. A possibility to switch the direction
of the debenzylidenation reaction in 4,6-O-benzylidene-2,3-di-O-TIPS/TBDPS derivatives by the choice of an acid (TFA,
which cleanly gives furanose, versus AcOH, which cleaves benzylidene
acetal only) may present an advantage in the divergent synthesis of
selectively protected glycosyl donors (either in furanose or pyranose
form) useful for the synthesis of biologically important oligosaccharides.