Synthesis of 4-nitrophenyl O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)- (1-->2)-O-(6-O-methyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl)-(1-->6)-beta-D- glucopyranoside and its 4',6'-di-O-methyl analog. Potential inhibitors of N-acetylglucosaminyl-transferase V (GnT-V).

O-(2-Acetamido-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1-->2) -3,4 - di-O-acetyl-6-O-methyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl bromide and O-(2-acetamido-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)- (1-->2)-3-O-acetyl-4,6-di-O-methyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl bromide were each condensed with 4-nitrophenyl 2,3-di-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside, and the products were deprotected to yield, respectively, beta-D-Glc p NAc-(1-->2)-6-O-Me-alpha-D-Man p-(1-->6)-beta-D-Glc p and beta-D-Glc p NAc-(1-->2)-4,6-di-O-Me-alpha-D-Man p-(1-->6)-beta-D-Glc p, as their 4-nitrophenyl glycosides. These trisaccharides are expected to function as inhibitors for N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase V.