Synthesis of the Heparin‐Based Anticoagulant Drug Fondaparinux

Fondaparinux, a synthetic pentasaccharide based on the heparin antithrombin‐binding domain, is an approved clinical anticoagulant. Although it is a better and safer alternative to pharmaceutical heparins in many cases, its high cost, which results from the difficult and tedious synthesis, is a deterrent for its widespread use. The chemical synthesis of fondaparinux was achieved in an efficient and concise manner from commercially available D ‐glucosamine, diacetone α‐D ‐glucose, and penta‐O‐acetyl‐D ‐glucose. The method involves suitably functionalized building blocks that are readily accessible and employs shared intermediates and a series of one‐pot reactions that considerably reduce the synthetic effort and improve the yield.