Sulphated polysaccharides of the grateloupiaceae family : Part VII. Investigation of the acetolysis products of a partially desulphated sample of the polysaccharide of pachymenia carnosa

Investigation of the acetolysis products of a partially desulphated sample of the polysaccharide isolated from Pachymenia carnosa led to the isolation and characterization of the following oligosaccharides: 3-O-α-D-galactopyranosyl-D-galactose (1), 4-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl-D-galactose (2), 3-O-(2-O-methyl-α-D-galactopyranosyl)-D-galactose (3), a 4-O-galactopyranosyl-2-O-methylgalactose (4), 3-O-α-D-galactopyranosyl-6-O-methyl-D-galactose (5), 4-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl-2-O-methyl-D-galactose (6), 2-O-methyl-4-O-(6-O-methyl-β-D-galactopyranosyl)-D-galactose (14), O-β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→4)-O-α-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→3)-D-galactose (8), O-α-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→3)-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→4)-D-galactose (9), O-β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→4)-O-α-(2-O-methyl-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1→3)-D-galactose (11), O-α-(2-O-methyl-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1→3)-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→4)-D-galactose (12), O-α-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→3)-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→4)-2-O-methyl-D-galactose (13), O-α-(2-O-methyl-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1→3)-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→4)-2-O-methyl-D-galactose (16), and O-β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→4)-O-α-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→3)-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→4)-D-galactose (10). In addition, evidence was obtained for the presence of 4-O-(6-O-methyl-β-D-galactopyranosyl)-D-galactose (7) and O-β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→4)-O-α-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→3)-6-O-methyl-D-galactose (15).     

Synthesis of oleanolic acid saponins mimicking components of Chinese folk medicine Di Wu

3,28-Di-O-rhamnosylated oleanolic acid saponins, mimicking components of Chinese folk medicine Di Wu, have been designed and synthesized. One-pot glycosylation and ‘inverse procedure’ technologies have been applied thus significantly simplifying the preparation of desired saponins. The cytotoxic activity of compounds 3-O-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-d-xylopyranosyl]oleanolic acid 28-O-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-d-glucopyranosyl] ester (3), 3-O-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl]oleanolic acid 28-O-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl- (1→4)-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-d-glucopyranosyl] ester (4), 3-O-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl]oleanolic acid 28-O-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl] ester (5), and 3-O-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl]oleanolic acid 28-O-[6-O-(α-l-rhamnopyranosyl)hexyl] ester (6) was preliminarily evaluated against HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells. The natural saponin 3 and designed saponin 4 exhibited comparable moderate cytotoxic activity under our testing conditions.     

Bioactive saponins from Microsechium helleri and Sicyos bulbosus

Eleven oleanane-type saponins (1-11) have been isolated from Microsechium helleri and Sicyos bulbosus roots and were evaluated for their antifeedant, nematicidal and phytotoxic activities. Saponins {3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl (1 → 3)-β-d-glucopyranosyl-2β,3β,16α,23-tetrahydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid 28-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-[β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 3)]-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-α-l-arabinopyranoside} (1), and {3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-2β,3β,16α,23-tetrahydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid 28-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-[β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 3)]-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-α-l-arabinopyranoside} (2) were also isolated from M. helleri roots together with the two known compounds 3 and 4. Seven known structurally related saponins (5-11) were isolated from S. bulbosus roots. The structures of these compounds were established as bayogenin and polygalacic glycosides using one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Compounds 7, 10, bayogenin (12) and polygalacic acid (13) showed significant (p < 0.05) postingestive effects on Spodoptera littoralis larvae, compounds 5-11 and 12 showed variable nematicidal effects on Meloydogyne javanica and all tested saponins had variable phytotoxic effects on several plant species (Lycopersicum esculentum, Lolium perenne and Lactuca sativa). These are promising results in the search for natural pesticides from the Cucurbitaceae family.     

Unusual oleanane-type saponins from Arenaria montana

Three oleanane-type saponins, 3-O-β-d-glucopyranosylechinocystic acid 28-O-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1→4)-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)]-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl ester (1), 3-O-β-d-glucopyranosylechinocystic acid 28-O-α-l-arabinopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1→4)-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)]-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl ester (2), 3-O-β-d-glucopyranosylcaulophyllogenin 28-O-β-d-apiofuranosyl-(1→3)-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1→4)-[β-d-apiofuranosyl-(1→3)]-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl ester (3) were isolated from the whole plant of Arenaria montana. Their unusual structures for the Caryophyllaceae family were established mainly by 2D NMR techniques and mass spectrometry.     

Four new steroidal glycosides from Solanum torvum and their cytotoxic activities

Two novel C-22 steroidal lactone saponins, namely solanolactosides A, B (1, 2) and two new spirostanol glycosides, namely torvosides M, N (3, 4) were isolated from ethanol extract of aerial parts of Solanum torvum. Their structures were characterized as solanolide 6-O-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-O-β-d-quinovopyranoside] (1), solanolide 6-O-[β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-O-β-d-quinovopyranoside] (2), yamogenin 3-O-[β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-O-β-d-glucopyranoside] (3) and neochlorogenin 3-O-[β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-O-β-d-glucopyranoside] (4) on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. The cytotoxicities of the saponins (1-4) were evaluated in vitro against a panel of human cancer cell lines. Compounds 3 and 4 showed significant cytotoxic activity with the cell lines.     

Triterpenoidal saponins of Pulsatilla koreana roots

Sixteen (1-16) triterpenoidal saponins were isolated from the roots of Pulsatilla koreana, of which four were determined as the previously unknown 23-hydroxy-3β-[(O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl)oxy]lup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid 28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (1), 23-hydroxy-3β-[(O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-α-L-arabinopyranosyl)oxy]lup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid 28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (2), 3β-[(O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-α-L-arabinopyranosyl)oxy]lup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid 28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (3), and 3β-[(O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)]-α-L-arabinopyranosyl)oxy]lup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid 28-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (4), respectively, based on spectroscopic analysis. The inhibition of the lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production of sixteen isolated compounds was evaluated in RAW 264.7 cells at concentrations ranging from 1 μM to 100 μM.     

Acylated flavonol tetraglycosides from Delphinium gracile

An ethanol extract of the aerial parts of Delphinium gracile DC. yielded five flavonol glycosides quercetin-3-O-{[β-d-xylopyranosyl (1 → 3)-4-O-(E-p-caffeoyl)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl (1 → 6)][β-d-glucopyranosyl (1 → 2)]}-β-d-glucopyranoside (1), quercetin-3-O-{[β-d-xylopyranosyl (1 → 3)-4-O-(E-p-coumaroyl)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl (1 → 6)][β-d-glucopyranosyl (1 → 2)]}-β-d-glucopyranoside (2), quercetin-3-O-{[β-d-xylopyranosyl (1 → 3)-4-O-(Z-p-coumaroyl)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl (1 → 6)][β-d-glucopyranosyl (1 → 2)]}-β-d-glucopyranoside (3), kaempferol-3-O-{[β-d-glucopyranosyl (1 → 3)-4-O-(E-p-coumaroyl)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl (1 → 6)][β-d-glucopyranoside-7-O-(4-O-acetyl)-α-l-rhamnopyranoside (4) kaempferol-3-O-{[β-d-glucopyranosyl (1 → 3)-4-O-(E-p-coumaroyl)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl (1 → 6)][β-d-glucopyranoside-7-O-(4-O-acetyl)-α-l-rhamnopyranoside (5) in addition to 4-(β-d-glucopyranosyloxy)-6-methyl-2H-pyran-2-one (6) and rutin. Structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods.     

Synthesis of the 6-deoxytalose-containing tetrasaccharide of the glycopeptidolipid from Mycobacterium intracellare serotype 7

An efficient synthesis of 4-methoxyphenyl α-l-Rhap-(1→3)-α-l-Rhap-(1→3)-α-l-Rhap-(1→2)-6-deoxy-α-l-Talp, the tetrasaccharide related to the GPLs of Mycobacterium intracellare serotype 7, was achieved with 4-methoxyphenyl 3,4-di-O-benzoyl-6-deoxy-α-l-talopyranoside (6c) as the key intermediate which was obtained through selective 3-O-benzoylation of 4-O-benzoyl-6-deoxy-α-l-taloside. Coupling of 6c with 3-O-allyloxycarbonyl-2,4-di-O-benzoyl-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate followed by removal of the allyloxycarbonyl protecting group afforded the disaccharide acceptor 11. Condensation of 11 with 2,3,4-tri-O-benzoyl-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→3)-2,4-di-O-benzoyl-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate and subsequent deprotection gave the target tetrasaccharide.     

Synthetic studies on the carbohydrate moiety of the antigen from the parasite Echinococcusmultilocularis

Stereocontrolled syntheses of branched tri-, tetra-, and pentasaccharides displaying a Galβ1→3GalNAc core in the glycan portion of the glycoprotein antigen from the parasite Echinococcusmultilocularis have been accomplished. Trisaccharide Galβ1→3(GlcNAcβ1→6)GalNAcα1-OR (A), tetrasaccharide Galβ1→3(Galβ1→4GlcNAcβ1→6)GalNAcα1-OR (D), and pentasaccharides Galβ1→3(Galβ1→4Galβ1→4GlcNAcβ1→6)GalNAcα1-OR (E) and Gal β1→3(Galα1→4Galβ1→4GlcNAcβ1→6)GalNAcα1-OR (F) (R = 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl) were synthesized by block synthesis. The disaccharide 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-d-galactopyranosyl-(1→3)-2-azido-4-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-α-d-galactopyranoside served as a common glycosyl acceptor in the synthesis of the branched oligosaccharides. Moreover, linear trisaccharide Galβ1→4Galβ1→3GalNAcα1-OR (B) and branched tetrasaccharide Galβ1→4Galβ1→3(GlcNAcβ1→6)GalNAcα1-OR (C) were synthesized by stepwise condensation.     

Cycloartane glycosides from Astragalus campylosema Boiss. ssp. campylosema

Four cycloartane glycosides, 3-O-[α-l-arabinopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-d-xylopyranosyl]-3β,6α,16β,23α,25-pentahydroxy-20(R),24(S)-epoxycycloartane (1), 3-O-[α-l-arabinopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-d-xylopyranosyl]-16-O-hydroxyacetoxy-23-O-acetoxy-3β,6α,25-trihydroxy-20(R),24(S)-epoxycycloartane (2), 3-O-[α-l-arabinopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-d-xylopyranosyl]-3β,6α,23α,25-tetrahydroxy-20(R),24(R)-16β,24;20,24-diepoxycycloartane (3), 3-O-[α-l-arabinopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-d-xylopyranosyl]-25-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-3β,6α,16β,25-tetrahydroxy-20(R),24(S)-epoxycycloartane (4), along with three known cycloartane glycosides were isolated from the MeOH extract of the roots of Astragalus campylosema ssp. campylosema. Their structures were established by the extensive use of 1D- and 2D-NMR experiments along with ESIMS and HRMS analysis. The occurrence of the hydroxyl function at position 23 (1-2) and of the ketalic function at C-24 (3) are very unusual findings in the cycloartane class.     

Phenolic compounds and rare polyhydroxylated triterpenoid saponins from Eryngium yuccifolium

Phytochemical investigation on the whole plant of Eryngium yuccifolium resulted in the isolation and identification of three phenolic compounds (1-3) and 12 polyhydroxylated triterpenoid saponins, named eryngiosides A-L (4-15), together with four known compounds kaempferol-3-O-(2,6-di-O-trans-p-coumaroyl)-β-d-glucopyranoside (16), caffeic acid (17), 21β-angeloyloxy-3β-[β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)]-[β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)]-β-d-glucuronopyranosyloxyolean-12-ene-15α,16α,22α,28-tetrol (18), and saniculasaponin III (19). This study reports the isolation of these compounds and their structural elucidation by extensive spectroscopic analyses and chemical degradation.     

First synthesis of the immunodominant beta-galactofuranose-containing tetrasaccharide present in the cell wall of Aspergillus fumigatus

β-Galf-(1→5)-β-Galf-(1→6)-α-Manp-(1→6)-α-Manp, the immunodominant epitope in the cell-wall galactomannan of Aspergillus fumigatus, was synthesized for the first time as its allyl glycoside. The key disaccharide glycosyl donor, 2,3,5,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-β-d-galactofuranosyl-(1→5)-2-O-acetyl-3,6-di-O-benzoyl-β-d-galactofuranosyl trichloroacetimidate (10), was constructed by 5-O-glycosylation of 1,2-O-isopropylidene-3,6-di-O-benzoyl-α-d-galactofuranose (4) with 2,3,5,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-β-d-galactofuranosyl trichloroacetimidate (5), followed by 1,2-O-deacetonation, acetylation, selective 1-O-deacetylation, and trichloroacetimidation. The target tetrasaccharide 16 was obtained by the condensation of allyl 2,3,4-tri-O-benzoyl-α-d-mannopyranosyl-(1→6)-2,3,4-tri-O-benzoyl-α-d-mannopyranoside (14) as glycosyl acceptor with the disaccharide glycosyl donor 10, followed by deprotection.     

A new ursane-type triterpenoid glycoside from Centella asiatica leaves modulates the production of nitric oxide and secretion of TNF-α in activated RAW 264.7 cells

One new ursane-type triterpenoid glycoside, asiaticoside G (1), five triterpenoids, asiaticoside (2), asiaticoside F (3), asiatic acid (4), quadranoside IV (5), and 2α,3β,6β-trihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid 28-O-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-d-glucopyranosyl] ester (6), and four flavonoids, kaempferol (7), quercetin (8), astragalin (9), and isoquercetin (10) were isolated from the leaves of Centella asiatica. Their chemical structures were elucidated by mass, 1D- and 2D-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The structure of new compound 1 was determined to be 2α,3β,23,30-tetrahydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid 28-O-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-d-glucopyranosyl] ester. The anti-inflammatory activities of the isolated compounds were investigated on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Asiaticoside G (1) potently inhibited the production of nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor-α with inhibition rates of 77.3% and 69.0%, respectively, at the concentration of 100 μM.     

Synthesis of cholestane saponins as mimics of OSW-1 and their cytotoxic activities

To fulfill the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of OSW-1, and aim at finding the simplest structural part while maintaining most of the biological activities, six cholestane saponins were synthesized by introducing OSW-1 disaccharide (2-O-4-methoxybenzoyl-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)-2-O-acetyl-α-l-arabinopyranosyl) and its 1→4-linked analogue to the 7-hydroxy or 16-hydroxy of steroidal sapogenins. Cytotoxic activities of the products were tested. Compounds 1 and 3 exhibited potent cytotoxicities against five types of human tumor cells, with minimum IC₅₀ of 2.0 and 75 nM, respectively. And due to its high activity and easy accessibility compound 1 could be a potential candidate for new anti-tumor agents.     

Methylated anthocyanidin glycosides from flowers of Canna indica

Methylated anthocyanin glycosides were isolated from red Canna indica flower and identified as malvidin 3-O-(6-O-acetyl-β-d-glucopyranoside)-5-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (1), malvidin 3,5-O-β-d-diglucopyranoside (2), cyanidin-3-O-(6″-O-α-rhamnopyranosyl-β-glucopyranoside (3), cyanidin-3-O-(6″-O-α-rhamnopyranosyl)-β-galactopyranoside (4), cyanidin-3-O-β-glucopyranoside (5) and cyanidin-O-β-galactopyranoside (6) by HPLC-PDA. Their structures were subsequently determined on the basis of spectroscopic analyses, that is, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, HMQC, HMBC, ESI-MS, and UV-vis. Compounds (1-4) were found to be in major quantity while compounds (5-6) were in minor quantity.     

Antibacterial phenolic components from Eriocaulon buergerianum

Five phenolic components, 1,3,6-trihydroxy-2,5,7-trimethoxyxanthone (1), 7,3′-dihydroxy-5,4′,5′-trimethoxyisoflavone (2), toralactone-9-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (3), patuletin-3-O-[2-O-E-feruloyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-β-d-glucopyranoside] (4), patuletin-3-O-[β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-2-O-E-caffeoyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-β-d-glucopyranoside] (5), along with 19 known compounds were isolated from Eriocaulon buergerianum (Eriocaulaceae). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic and chemical methods. All 24 isolated compounds were tested against the pathogenic bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923); as a result, 10 compounds were found to exhibit antibacterial activity with MICs ranging from 32 to 256 μg/ml.     

Studies in the sphingolipids series,XXXII : Synthesis and resolution into optical antipodes of C20-phytosphingosine

C₂₀-Phytosphingosine, D(+)-ribo-2-amino-1, 3, 4-trihydroxyeicosane (8a), is synthesized through the following intermediates: 2-Methoxyoctadecanoic acid chloride (1)→Ethyl 2-methoxyoctadecanoylacetoacetate (2)→Ethyl (2-p-nitrophenylhydrazono)-2,3-dioxo-4-methoxyeicosanoate (3)→Ethyl 2-acetamido-3-oxo-4-methoxyeicosanoate (4)→Ethyl 2-acetamido-3-hydroxy-4-methoxyeicosanoate (5)→2-Acetamido-3-hydroxy-4-methoxyeicosanoic acid (6), 2-Amino-3-hydroxyeicosanoic acid 1,4-lactone hydrobromide (7a, b)→DL-ribo (8a) and DL-xylo(?)-2-amino-1,3,4-trihydroxyeicosane (8b). The resolution of the racemic base (8a) has been effected through its salts with D-tartaric acid.     

Stereoselective entry into the d-GalNAc series starting from the d-Gal one: a new access to N-acetyl-d-galactosamine and derivatives thereof

A new stereoselective preparation of N-aceyl-d-galactosamine (1b) starting from the known p-methoxyphenyl 3,4-O-isopropylidene-6-O-(1-methoxy-1-methylethyl)-β-d-galactopyranoside (10) is described using a simple strategy based on (a) epimerization at C-2 of 10 via oxidation-reduction to give the talo derivative 11, (b) amination with configurational inversion at C-2 of 11 via a S_N2-type reaction on its 2-imidazylate, (c) anomeric deprotection of the p-methoxyphenyl β-d-galactosamine glycoside 14, (d) complete deprotection. Applying the same protocol to 2,3:5,6:3′,4′-tri-O-isopropylidene-6′-O-(1-methoxy-1-methylethyl)-lactose dimethyl acetal (4), directly obtained through acetonation of lactose, the disaccharide β-d-GalNAcp-(1→4)-d-Glcp (1a) was obtained with complete stereoselectivity in good (40%) overall yield from lactose.     

Regioselective synthesis of a glycomimetic trisaccharide of Sialyl Lewis (sLe)

Sialyl Lewis (sLe^x) is the smallest naturally occurring carbohydrate ligand that binds to E-Selectin on the activated endothelium. We report here the total synthesis of acetic acid-sLe^x analog (12), for testing as a therapeutic agent. Methoxyethyl 4-O-(3,4-O-isopropylidene-β-d-galactopyranosyl)-β-d-glucopyranoside (3) was prepared starting from the methoxyethyl-β-d-lactoside (2), which was selectively benzoylated to give the methoxyethyl 2,6-di-O-benzoyl-4-O-(2,6-di-O-benzoyl-3,4-O-isopropylidene-β-d-galactopyranosyl)-β-d-glucopyranoside (4). Glycosylation of acceptor 4 with methyl 2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-1-thio-β-l-fucopyranoside (5) in the presence of cupric bromide and tetrabutylammonium bromide afforded the corresponding methoxyethyl 2,6-di-O-benzyl-3-O-(2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-α-l-fucopyranosyl)-4-O-(2,6-di-O-benzyl-3,4-O-isopropylidene-β-d-galactopyranosyl)-β-d-glucopyranoside (6). Selective removal of the 4″,6″-O-isopropylidene group from 6 gave the deprotected trisaccharide 7. The regioselective esterification of O-3″ of trisaccharide 8 (obtained from the dibutylstannylene derivative of 7) with benzyl-2-bromoacetate and tetrabutylammonium bromide afforded the 3″-O-carbobenzyloxymethyl trisaccharide derivative 9, which on saponification and hydrogenolysis with palladium-charcoal afforded the target trisaccharide 12 glycomimetic of Sialyl Lewis (sLe^x) trisaccharide omitting the sialic acid moiety.     

The synthesis and degradation of benzyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-2,3-dideoxy-3-C-ethyl-2-C-hydroxymethyl-α-d-glucopyranoside and -mannopyranoside

The use of carbohydrates for establishing, by synthesis, the absolute configuration of branched aliphatic alcohols is demonstrated by the synthesis and degradation of carbohydrate derivatives that contain two branch points. Benzyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-2,3-dideoxy-3-C-ethyl-2-C-hydroxymethyl-α-d-glucopyranoside (23) and -mannopyranoside (24) were formed from benzyl 2,3-anhydro-4,6-O-benzylidene-α-d-mannopyranoside (17) by a reaction sequence that involved ring-opening with ethylmagnesium chloride, oxidation, epimerisation, methylenation, and hydroboronation. The gluco isomer 23 was converted into (+)-(R)-2,3-bisacetoxymethylpentyl acetate (1) by sequential hydrogenolysis, borohydride reduction, periodate oxidation, borohydride reduction, and acetylation. The synthesis of 1 provides confirmatory evidence for the absolute configuration of the alkaloid pilocarpine (2). Unidentified products, and not the expected free-sugars, were obtained by acidic hydrolysis of methyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-2,3-dideoxy-3-C-ethyl-2-C-hydroxymethyl-α-d-glucopyranoside (8) and -mannopyranoside (9). Convenient syntheses of benzyl α-d-glucopyranoside derivatives are described.