| Abstract: | The treatment of the 1, 2:5, 6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D -ribo- and xylo-hexofuranos-3-uloses with cyanomethylenetriphenylphosphorane led in each case, and in almost quantitative yields, to a pair of geometrical isomers of C-cyanomethylenic sugars having respectively the ribo and the xylo configurations. Permanganate oxidation of these branched-chain unsaturated sugars afforded the corresponding gem-hydroxyformyl compounds bearing the formyl group on the more hindered face of the molecule. The formyl group of these sugars is easily derivatized to an oximino or reduced to a hydroxymethyl. The configuration at the new asymmetric carbon has been established by comparison with known compounds or by synthesis of a C(3) epimer by the classical route involving a Grignard reagent. |
