Abstract: | Several sugars with conjugated unsaturation (dienes or α, β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds) have been synthesised by use of Wittig reactions. Keto-sugars bearing a carbonyl group α to a furanose ring are prone to undergo an elimination leading to conjugated unsaturated systems. This constitutes a novel kind of side-reaction in the application of Wittig reactions to carbonyl sugars. The synthesis of a new kind of acetylenic sugar is also described. |