Chemical transformation of lactose into 4-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-D-glucuronic acid (pseudolactobiouronic acid) and some derivatives thereof.

The selective oxidation of the primary alcoholic function of the reducing unit of lactose was achieved in good overall yield (67%) starting from 2',6'-di-O-benzyl-2,3:3',4'-di-O-isopropylidenelactose dimethyl acetal (1) through a simple multi-step procedure based on the selective acetylation of OH-5 of 1 (methoxyisopropylation, acetylation, de-methoxyisopropylation) followed by a two-step oxidation at C-6 (TPAP-NMO then TEMPO-NaOCl) and finally, complete removal of the protecting groups.