Facile exchange of glycosyl S,S-acetals to their O,O-acetals and preparation of glycofuranosides from acyclic glycosyl S,S-acetals under metal-free reaction conditions in the presence of 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin.

Exchange of acyclic glycosyl dithioacetals to their O,O-acetals has been achieved by a generalized reaction protocol mediated by 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin under mild, metal-free and neutral conditions. This methodology has been extended to the synthesis of alkyl glycofuranosides.