A new glycosidation method through nitrite displacement on substituted nitrobenzenes

Benzyl, benzoyl, and acetyl protected 1-OH and 1-SH glycoses in the glucose, glucosamine, galactose, mannose, and lactose series react with nitrobenzenes activated by one or two electron withdrawing substituents like nitro and cyano to afford the corresponding aryl glycosides in 50–100% yield. The SNAr displacement of nitrite by 1-OH glycoses is reversible and gives predominantly the α-glycosides, whereas 1-SH glycoses do not anomerize and afford the β-glycosides. Thus, the prepared dicyanophenyl gycosides are useful building blocks for the preparation of phthalocyanine-glycoconjugates via template synthesis.

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