Synthesis of hexopyranosyl acetates and 2,3-disubstituted tetrahydropyrans via chemoselective hydrogenation of hex-2-enopyranosyl acetates

A simple and easy method for chemoselective synthesis of hexopyranosyl acetates and 2,3-disubstituted tetrahydropyrans from hex-2-enopyranosyl acetates was demonstrated. The former was achieved by hydrogenation catalyzed by Rh/Al2O3 in EtOAc/toluene solvent at 0 °C, while the latter was carried out using Pd/C in EtOH/AcOH at 25 °C.