Interglycosidic Acetals IV. Preparation and Regioselective Cleavage of Phenyl 2,2′ : 4,6 : 4′,6′-Tri-O-benzylidene-1-thio-β-laminaribiosides

A (+)-10-Camphorsulfonic acid-catalysed acetal exchange reaction of phenyl 1-thio-β-laminaribioside using 3.5 molar equivalents of α,α-dimethoxytoluene gave a tris(benzylidene acetal), which was isolated and characterized as phenyl 3′-O-acetyl-2,2′ : 4,6 : 4′,6′-tri-O-benzylidene-1-thio-β-laminaribioside, and the corresponding 3′-O-benzyl derivative 6. Upon a treatment with pyridinium p-toluenesulfonate, the interglycosidic 2,2′-acetal in 6 underwent selective cleavage to give the 2,2′-diol. Additionally, a reductive ring-opening reaction of 6 with lithium aluminium hydride/anhydrous aluminium chloride, followed by O-acetylation, gave the 2,6,6′-O-acetyl-4,2′,3′,4′-tetra-O-benzyl derivative in 73% yield. A different regioselectivity was observed in the reduction of 6 with borane-trimethylamine adduct/anhydrous aluminium chloride or sodium cyanotrihydroborate/methanesulfonic acid, giving the corresponding 2,4,4′-triol as the major product.