Synthesis of mixed glycosyl disulfides/selenenylsulfides using benzyltriethylammonium tetrathiomolybdate as a sulfur transfer reagent

•Glycosyl halides react with tetrathiomolybdate to give glycosyl dichalcogenides.•Protocol for the synthesis of mixed glycosyl disulfides/selenenylsulfides is reported.•A trisaccharide and a glycosyl amino acid containing mixed disulfide are synthesized.

An easy and mild method has been developed for the synthesis of mixed glycosyl disulfides/selenenylsulfides from glycosyl halides and diaryl/dialkyl dichalcogenides in the presence of benzyltriethylammonium tetrathiomolybdate [(BnEt3N)2MoS4]. The salient feature of this method is the sulfur transfer from [BnEt3N]2MoS4 to form glycosyl disulfides which with excess tetrathiomolybdate further undergo exchange reaction with other dichalcogenides in a one-pot operation.

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