Base-catalyzed degradation of permethylated 3-O-glycosylglycopyranosid-2-uloses

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0008-6215(00)90533-0

In a modification of the Svensson degradation, otherwise permethylated glycopyranosid-2-uloses bearing 4-O-glycosyl substituents are formed by the Swern oxidation. Base-catalyzed elimination on treatment with triethylamine then gives 4-deoxy-3-O-methylglyc-3-enopyranosid-2-ulose-terminated oligosaccharides with liberation of glycosyl substituents as reducing sugars but without further degradation. Mild acid hydrolysis results in removal of the unsaturated sugar residues so that the overall depolymerization occurs with net loss of the initially oxidized sugar residue. In a modification of the Svensson degradation, otherwise permethylated glycopyranosid-2-uloses bearing 4-O-glycosyl substituents are formed by the Swern oxidation. Base-catalyzed elimination on treatment with triethylamine then gives 4-deoxy-3-O-methylglyc-3-enopyranosid -2-ulose-terminated oligosaccharides with liberation of glycosly substituents as reducing sugars but without further degradation. Mild acid hydrolysis results in removal of the unsaturated sugar residues so that the overall depolymerization occurs with net loss only of the initially oxidized sugar residue.