A method for photochemical activation of glycosyl donors is presented. Selenoglycosides were activated by single-electron transfer using a photooxidant, N-methylquinolinium hexafluorophosphate, as photosensitizer and a toluene cosolvent as cosensitizer under irradiation at 350 nm. In this way we were able to synthesize glycosides including (1 -> 6)-linked disaccharides. Benzyl ethers and benzoate esters were compatible with these conditions, allowing potentially synthetically useful transformations. The major by-products were due to hydrolysis; the reactions required the presence of oxygen and were run in air.
A method for photochemical activation of glycosyl donors is presented. Selenoglycosides were activated by single-electron transfer using a photooxidant, N-methylquinolinium hexafluorophosphate, as photosensitizer and a toluene cosolvent as cosensitizer under irradiation at 350 nm. In this way we were able to synthesize glycosides including (1 -> 6)-linked disaccharides. Benzyl ethers and benzoate esters were compatible with these conditions, allowing potentially synthetically useful transformations. The major by-products were due to hydrolysis; the reactions required the presence of oxygen and were run in air.