Mapping the Relationship between Glycosyl Acceptor Reactivity and Glycosylation Stereoselectivity

The reactivity of both coupling partners—the glycosyl donor and acceptor—is decisive for the outcome of a glycosylation reaction, in terms of both yield and stereoselectivity. Where the reactivity of glycosyl donors is well understood and can be controlled through manipulation of the functional/protecting‐group pattern, the reactivity of glycosyl acceptor alcohols is poorly understood. We here present an operationally simple system to gauge glycosyl acceptor reactivity, which employs two conformationally locked donors with stereoselectivity that critically depends on the reactivity of the nucleophile. A wide array of acceptors was screened and their structure–reactivity/stereoselectivity relationships established. By systematically varying the protecting groups, the reactivity of glycosyl acceptors can be adjusted to attain stereoselective cis‐glucosylations. Feinabstimmung: Ein einfaches System für die Feinabstimmung der Reaktivität von Glykosylakzeptoren nutzt zwei konformativ fixierte Donoren, deren Stereoselektivität von der Reaktivität des Akzeptors abhängt. Die Struktur‐Reaktivitäts/Stereoselektivitäts‐Beziehungen eines breiten Spektrums von Akzeptoren wurden erforscht. Die Reaktivität der Glykosylakzeptoren kann durch Variieren der Schutzgruppen so abgestimmt werden, dass stereoselektive cis‐Glukosylierungen resultieren.