Selective lipase-catalyzed preparation of diol monobenzoates by transesterification and alcoholysis reactions in organic solvents

From a Carbohydrate Raw Material to an Important Building Block: Cost-Efficient Conversion of d-Fructose into 2-Deoxy-l-ribose

A straightforward method for the conversion of a low-cost carbohydrate (d-fructose) into an important carbohydrate building block (2-deoxy-l-ribose) is reported. This methodology involves a novel radical cyclization followed by a fragmentation reaction, selective enzymatic hydrolysis using a lipase, and oxidative cleavage of the vicinal diol. This method uses the cheapest starting material and employs the shortest synthetic route (7 steps) for converting a d-sugar into 2-deoxy-l-ribose.