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Abstract: Monosaccharides are selectively converted to monobenzoates in a base-catalyzed reaction with benzoyl methyl phosphate (BzMP) and a lanthanum salt in water. Yields are reported in terms of formation of the ester, which competes with hydrolysis of BzMP, to give an estimate of the efficiency of the conversion of the sugar. Higher conversions can be achieved using excess reagent. Regioselectivity is influenced by the structure of the glycoside. For example, the reaction leads to different product distributions from α- and β-anomers of the glycosides. The reaction combination provides a basis for efficient ester formation in specific geometric situations, providing a means of identification as well as modification. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

It was previously reported that diols dissolved in water (pH 8, EPPS buffer) react with benzoyl methyl phosphate (BMP) in the presence of lanthanide ions to form monobenzoyl esters. We have investigated the possibility of extending this process to include formation of esters of monosaccharides in water from lanthanide-catlayzed reactions with BMP. The combination of methyl-α-D-glucopyranoside and BMP in the presence of lanthanum trichloride gave selective monoacylation of the 2- and 6-hydroxyl groups in a ratio of 2:1. The likely mechanism involves preferential bisbidentate coordination of BMP and the diol to lanthanide ion (which explains how an ester forms when water is in enormous excess) followed by base-catalyzed intramolecular acyl transfer. The method should be generally applicable where a selective acylation reaction in water as solvent is desirable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]