A new approach to construct full-length glycosylphosphatidylinositols of parasitic protozoa and [4-deoxy-Man-III]-GPI analogues.

A new [2 + 2 + 2] approach to construct GPI molecules through the efficient synthesis of glucosamine-inositol and tetramannose intermediates led to a total synthesis of a GPI-anchor of Trypanosoma cruzi, and also afforded a key intermediate for the synthesis of valuable [4-deoxy-Man-III]-GPI analogues.