Novel formal synthesis of stereospecifically C-6 deuterated d-glucose employing configurationally stable alkoxymethyllithiums

The synthesis and testing of configurational stability of chirally monodeuterated PMB- and THP-substituted oxymethyllithiums are described. Macroscopically they are configurationally stable up to −35 °C, the limit of their chemical stability, and microscopically even up to 0 °C. Furthermore, THP-protected oxy-[D₁]methyllithium has been applied in the formal synthesis of (6R)-[6-D₁]-d-glucose (four steps, 40% yield), an example of its use as a homochiral hydroxymethyl synthon.