10.1016/S0040-4039(00)97381-7
The research documented in the literature focuses on the selective thermal glycosylation of various alcohols using 2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl chloride and 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-α-D-mannopyranosyl chloride to produce α-glycosides with high selectivity. The study builds on previous work involving thermal glycosidation with glucosyl or xylosyl chlorides but introduces a significant improvement in stereoselectivity, particularly with sterically hindered alcohols. The key chemicals involved in this research include the rhamnosyl and mannosyl chlorides as glycosyl donors, various alcohols such as cholesterol, cholestanol, dihydrolanosterol, and others as acceptors, and in some experiments, N,N,N',N'-tetramethylurea (TMU) as an acid scavenger. The process is notable for its simplicity, safety, and economy, as it does not require hazardous metal salts or solvents, making it a practical and environmentally friendly method for glycosylation.