10.3762/bjoc.10.202
The research presents an investigation into the Grignard reaction of carbohydrate aldehydes with benzylmagnesium halides, focusing on the unexpected rearrangement from benzyl to o-tolyl carbinols. The study was prompted by challenges encountered in synthesizing benzyl-branched sugar carbinols, which are precursors for phenylalanine-branched sugars. The main reactants were 2,3-O-isopropylidene-α-D-lyxo-pentodialdo-1,4-furanoside and benzylmagnesium chloride or bromide. The reaction yielded a mixture of diastereomeric benzyl and o-tolyl carbinols, with the ratio varying based on the reaction conditions. The research employed various methods (A-E) to manipulate these conditions, including changes in temperature, reactant ratios, solvents, and the sequence of reactant addition. The products were analyzed using NMR spectral data, X-ray crystallographic analysis, and other analytical techniques such as specific rotations, melting points, and mass spectrometry to confirm the structures of the resulting compounds and to propose a possible mechanism for the rearrangement. The study concluded that the rearrangement was specific to the starting sugar aldehyde and provided valuable insights for the synthesis of structurally modified iminosugars and other biologically active compounds.