Gold(I)-catalyzed glycosylation with glycosyl ortho-alkynylbenzoates as donors: general scope and application in the synthesis of a cyclic triterpene saponin.

Glycosyl ortho-alkynylbenzoates have emerged as a new generation of donors for glycosidation under the catalysis of gold(I) complexes such as Ph(3)PAuOTf and Ph(3)PAuNTf(2) (Tf = trifluoromethanesulfonate). A wide variety of these donors, including 2-deoxy sugar and sialyl donors, are easily prepared and shelf stable. The glycosidic coupling yields with alcohols are generally excellent; even direct coupling with the poorly nucleophilic amides gives satisfactory yields. Moreover, excellent alpha-selective glycosylation with a 2-deoxy sugar donor and beta-selective sialylation have been realized. Application of the present glycosylation protocol in the efficient synthesis of a cyclic triterpene tetrasaccharide have further demonstrated the versatility and efficacy of this new method, in that a novel chemoselective glycosylation of the carboxylic acid and a new one-pot sequential glycosylation sequence have been implemented.