title: Unexpected formation of glycals upon attempted C-alkylation of protected glycosylacetylenes.
abstract: Treatment of 3,7-anhydro-4,5,6,8-tetra-O-benzyl-1,2-dideoxy-D-glycero-D-galacto-oct-1 -ynitol (beta-D-mannosyl acetylene, 1) with 5 equivalents of n-butyllithium at either 0 or -78 degrees C resulted in the elimination of benzyl alcohol to yield 3,7-anhydro-5,6,8-tri-O-benzyl-1,2,4-trideoxy-D-arabino-oct-3-en-1-yn itol (glycal acetylene, 3) as the major product. Additional studies showed that 3 is also produced from two isomers of 1 with alpha-D-mannosyl and beta-D-glucosyl stereochemistry, but in lower yields. Furthermore, substrates in which the acetylene moiety is replaced by either a methyl or phenyl group do not produce a glycal product under these conditions. Finally, treatment of 1 with phenyllithium provides 3 in low yield. Deuterium labeling studies suggest that the reaction proceeds through an E2, rather than an E1cB, mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210, USA.
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Lowary
mesh_terms: D000114:Acetylene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D005947:Glucose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D008358:Mannose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D013237:Stereoisomerism
chemical_list: D005947:Glucose; D000114:Acetylene; D008358:Mannose