Synthesis of [6"-3H]-, (6"-2H)- and (2-2H)-maltotriose.
To prepare labeled precursors for biosynthetic studies, methods for the specific introduction of tritium and deuterium into the reducing and the terminal glucose unit of maltotriose were developed. Thus [6"-3H]- and (6"-2H)-maltotriose (17) and (18) were prepared via selective methoxytritylation, deprotection and subsequent modified Pfitzner-Moffatt oxidation, followed by reduction with sodium borotritiide or sodium borodeuteride, respectively. A simple two step procedure utilizing the Lobry de Bruyn/van Ekenstein transformation gave (2-2H)maltotriose (20).