Studies on the reductive amination of 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid (Kdo).

Reductive amination of 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid (Kdo) with allylamine (AIIN) or 2-(4-aminophenyl)ethylamine (APEA) yields epimer pairs of 2-N-allylamino and 2-N-[2-(4-aminophenyl)ethylamino]-2,3-dideoxy-D-glycero-D-galacto- and -2,3-dideoxy-D-glycero-D-talo-octonic acid. The yields were 50-60% due to reduction of Kdo to the respective polyols as side reaction products. Mass spectrometric analyses proved the amination derivatives to be the expected glycamines. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies were performed on 2-N-allylamino-2,3-dideoxyoctonic acid which represents the chain terminus of allylaminated oligosaccharides derived from bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) after acid hydrolysis and reductive allylamination.