Regioselective ring opening of exo- and endo-3,4-benzylidene acetals of arabinopyranoside derivatives with Lewis acids and reducing agents

Experimental observations on the reductive cleavage of endo and exo 3,4-O-benzylidene fucopyranoside derivatives

Reductive cleavage of methyl 3,4-O-benzylidene-α-L-fucopyranosides with BH₃·THF-TfOH and NaCNBH₃-TfOH systems resulted in enhanced reaction rates and selectivity compared to BH₃·THF-Bu₂BOTf. With this latter system, the nature of the O-2 substituent exerted a clear control on the reactivity but practically did not affect the regioselectivity. With TfOH the direction of cleavage was determined, as expected, by the configuration of the acetal carbon atom, but slightly influenced by its competitive epimerization. Protic conditions provided higher regioselectivity in the openings of the exo isomers, affording a useful approach to the practical synthesis of 3-O-benzyl ethers.