Crystal and molecular structures of diglycosyl disulfide derivatives.

The crystal and molecular structures of S-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-d-glucopyranosyl)-S'-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-d-galactopyranosyl)disulfide (1) and the mono-sulfoxide (3) of bis(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-d-glucopyranosyl)disulfide (2) are described. Comparison of 2 and 3, containing -S-S- and -S-S(O)- bonds, respectively, allows to delineate structural differences brought about by the different oxidation states of one of the sulfur atoms in carbohydrate disulfides.