2,6-Disubstituted benzoates as neighboring groups for enhanced diastereoselectivity in β-galactosylation reactions: Synthesis of β-1,3-linked oligogalactosides related to arabinogalactan proteins

Abstract

(Chemical Equation Presented) Arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) are plant glycoproteins which contain a β-1,3-linked galactan core. The synthesis of the β-galactopyranose-1,3-β-galactopyranose linkage using various 2-O-acyl-protected glycosyl donors has been plagued with poor stereoselectivity and side reactions including orthoester formation and transesterification of the 2-O-acyl group from the donor to the acceptor. We have investigated the use of 2,6-disubstituted benzoyl groups as bulky neighboring groups on the glycosyl donor. A 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl group was found to be optimal and enabled the formation of the β-galactopyranose-1,3-β-galactopyranose linkage to disarmed ester-protected..