Synthesis of diosgenyl alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)- [beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside (gracillin) and related saponins.

Diosgenyl alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1--2)-[beta-glucopyranosyl-(1--3)]- beta-D-glucopyranoside (gracillin), a monodesmosidic saponin isolated from paris, dioscorea, and costacea species with promising cardiovascular and antitumor activities, was synthesized by stepwise glycosylation.