1,2-cis Alkyl glycosides: straightforward glycosylation from unprotected 1-thioglycosyl donors.

A 1,2-cis-alkyl glycosidation protocol that makes use of unprotected phenyl 1-thioglycosyl donors is reported. Glycosylation of various functionalized alcohols was accomplished in moderate to high yield and selectivity to give the 1,2-cis-glycosides. In order to quickly develop optimum glycosylation conditions, an FIA (flow injection analysis)-ESI-TOF-MS method was developed that enabled rapid and quantitative evaluation of yield on small scale. This methodology, coupled with NMR spectroscopy, allowed for rapid evaluation of the overall reactions.