A case of oligomerization on attempted chlorination of an α-hydroxy acetal with the triphenylphosphine tetrachloromethane reagent

Treatment of methyl 3,5-dideoxy-β-$\text{D}$-$\text{erythro}$-pentofuranoside $\text{8}$ with the Ph₃P-CCl₄ reagent gave none of the expected 2-chloro derivative but a mixture of l→2 linked oligosaccharides, $\text{9}$, $\text{10}$ with some higher homologues, terminated by αa 2-chloro-2,3,5-trideoxy-α-$\text{D}$-$\text{threo}$-pentofuranosyl unit at the non reducing end.