A simple one-pot method for the synthesis of partially protected mono- and disaccharide building blocks using an orthoesterification-benzylation-orthoester rearrangement approach.

A simple one-pot method is reported for making partially protected glycosyl acceptors from O-methyl or S-alkyl/aryl glycosides of D-glucose, D-galactose, D-arabinose, L-rhamnose, L-fucose and lactose via orthoester formation, benzylation and selective hydrolysis.