Synthesis of Trisaccharides by Hetero-Diels–Alder Welding of Two Monosaccharide Units

A new strategy for the synthesis of di- and trisaccharides based on the de novo synthesis of the linking saccharide unit is presented. In this strategy, functionalized monosaccharide building blocks already incorporating the glycosidic linkages are welded together using a metal-catalyzed hetero-Diels–Alder (HDA) reaction to generate a new monosaccharide unit between them. The highest yields and selectivities in the HDA reaction were obtained by using chiral Schiff base chromium complexes. Disaccharide products were accessible by reaction of Danishefsky's diene with acetyl- and benzyl-protected galactoside aldehydes. For the synthesis of trisaccharide products, acetyl-protected glucose or ga…