Preparation of 2-deoxy-2-C-p-tolylsulfonyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl p-tolylsulfones having non-chair conformation and their elimination reactions

When the title sulfones, which have non-chair conformations, were stirred with silica gel, elimination of sulfinic acid occurred to give a 1-enitol derivative, if the hydroxyl group at C-6 was protected, whereas such an elimination did not proceed if the hydroxy group was free.