Synthesis of saccharide precursors for preparation of potential inhibitors of glycosyltranferases

Ethyl 6-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-3,4-di-O-acetyl-2-thio-α-D-fructofuranoside (Va), its β-analog (Vb); as well as benzyl 6-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-3,4-di-O-acetyl-2-thio-α-D-fructofuranoside (Xa) and its β-analog (Xb), having an unprotected OH group at C-1, were prepared by sequential synthesis starting from commercially available D-fructose. These compounds represent suitable nucleophiles for the preparation of model carbohydrate mimetics of a glycosyltransferase inhibitor type in transition state. The structures of all compounds were confirmed by NMR spectral data and elemental analyses.