Rapid and efficient conversion of sialyl thioglycosides to sialyl esters via NIS/BF3OEt2-promoted glycosylation

A rapid and efficient one-step conversion of sialyl thioglycosides to sialyl esters was disclosed. Under the promotion of NIS and BF₃OEt₂, the glycosylation of per-acetylated sialyl thioglycoside with a set of carboxylic acids provided β-sialyl esters as the major products in good to excellent yields within 5 min. Compared with the long-chain alkyl-, aryl- and α,β-unsaturated acids, complete β-selectivities were observed when the short-chain alkyl acids were selected as the coupling partners. The resultant β-selectivity for the glycosylation of the per-acetylated sialyl thioglycoside with acetic acid was compromised when the 5-N,4-O-oxazolidinone protected sialyl thioglycoside was employed as the coupling partner.