Synthesis
of bacterial cell surface l-glycero-d-manno-heptose (l,d-Hep)-
and d-glycero-d-manno-heptose (d,d-Hep)-containing higher
carbon sugars is a challenging task. Here, we report a convenient
and efficient approach for the synthesis of the l,d-Hep and d,d-Hep building blocks. Using l-lyxose and d-ribose as starting materials, this approach
features diastereoselective Mukaiyama-type aldol reactions as the
key steps. On the basis of the synthetic l,d-Hep
and d,d-Hep building blocks, we achieved the first
stereoselective synthesis of the unique α-l,d-Hep-(1→3)-α-d,d-Hep-(1→5)-α-Kdo
core trisaccharide of the lipopolysaccharide of Vibrio parahemolyticus O2.