O-benzylated thio sugars: 2,3,4- and 2,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-1-thio-β-d-galactopyranose

The 2,3,4- (9) and 2,4,6-tribenzyl (19) ethers of 1-thio-β-d-galactopyranose were prepared from the corresponding O-benzylated normal (1-hydroxyl) sugars 4 and 15 via the sequence: normal sugar → diacetate → O-acetylglycosyl bromide → O-acetyl-glycosyl ethylxanthate → 1-thio sugar. 2,3,4-Tri-O-benzyl-α-d-galactopyranose (4) is most advantageously made from allyl 6-O-allyl-α-d-galactopyranoside (2) by a published synthesis. An improved synthesis of 2,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-d-galactopyranose (15) was devised; it involves the selective 3-O-benzoylation of allyl 2,6-di-O-benzyl-α-d-galactopyranoside (10).