Differential reactivity of alpha- and beta-anomers of glycosyl acceptors in glycosylations. A remote consequence of the endo-anomeric effect?

When phenyl tri-O-benzyl-1-thio-beta-D-galactopyranosiduronic acid esters were coupled with a 1/1 mixture of alpha and beta 2,3 di-O-protected D-galactopyranosiduronic acid esters, the beta-anomer proved to be more reactive. Data from theoretical calculations suggested that the enhanced reactivity of this anomer compared with the alpha one would be due to a stronger hydrogen bond of the C-4 OH with the ring oxygen.