Synthesis of Glucuronoxylan Hexasaccharides by Preactivation‐Based Glycosylations

Abstract

The synthesis of two glucuronoxylans is described, which both consist of a pentaxylan backbone and a glucuronic acid linked to the 2 position in the fourth xylose residue from the reducing end. The two target molecules differ in the 4 position of the glucuronic acid where one is unsubstituted while the other contains a methyl ether. The pentaxylan backbone is assembled in four glycosylation reactions with phenyl thioglycoside donors. The couplings are performed by preactivation of the donor with in‐situ‐generated p‐nitrobenzenesulfenyl triflate prior to addition of the acceptor. The glucuronic acids are then attached by Koenigs‐Knorr glycosylations followed by deprotections. The syntheses employ a total of 8 steps from monosaccharide building blocks and afford the two glucuronoxylans in 12 and 15 % overall yield. The hexasaccharide products are valuable substrates for investigating the activity and specificity of glucuronoxylan‐degrading enzymes.