Improving glycopeptide synthesis: a convenient protocol for the preparation of beta-glycosylamines and the synthesis of glycopeptides

[reaction: see text] Herein we apply a recently introduced protocol using ammonium carbamate in methanol to the amination of crude chitobiose leading to 1,beta-aminochitobiose. This simple, one-step procedure allows a facile preparation of unstable glycosylamines in contrast to the commonly implemented ammonium bicarbonate based amination of water-soluble carbohydrates. The new amination protocol leads to an improved synthesis of the key chitobiosyl-asparagine building block for the SPPS of glycopeptides. The utility of the method is demonstrated with the synthesis of a 39-amino acid glycoprotein.