Electrooxidative glycosylation through C-S bond cleavage of 1-arylthio-2,3-dideoxyglycosides. Synthesis of 2',3'-dideoxynucleosides.

[reaction: see text] The electrooxidative glycosylation of newly designed 1-arylthio-substituted 2,3-dideoxyglycosides is described. The halide salt-mediated electrooxidation utilizing either of the alpha- or beta-thiodideoxyglycosides proceeded smoothly at -78 degrees C to give dideoxynucleosides in a beta-selective manner, presumably through a 1-halo-substituted glycosyl donor.