Synthesis of 2,3-anhydro- and 3,4-anhydro-hexopyranosides having a methyl branch on the oxirane ring,and their reactions with some lithium methylcuprate reagents

Three 2,3-anhydroaldohexopyranosides having a 2-C-methyl or 3-C-methyl branch, as well as three 3,4-anhydroaldohexopyranosides having a 3-C-methyl (7) or 4-C-methyl branch, were newly synthesized. The reactions of these, together with those of a known 3-C-methyl epoxide (2), with three kinds of lithium methylcuprate were investigated. Except for 2 and 7, the vicinal monodeoxy di-C-methyl derivatives were obtained by attack of the cuprates at the sterically less-hindered site of the oxirane ring, irrespective of the stereoelectronic effect. Formation of a unique, acyclic 1-enitol derivative from 2, and of a 4-enolone derivative from 7, was ascertained. Differences in the reactivity among the cuprates was also observed.