Improved Synthesis of the Tetrasaccharide Repeat Unit of the O-Antigen Polysaccharide from Escherichia coli O77

The efficient synthesis of a tetrasaccharide, the suitably protected form of the repeat unit, →2)-α-D-Manp-(1→2)-β-D-Manp-(1→3)-α-D-GlcpNAc-(1→6)-α-D-Manp-(1→, of the O-antigen polysaccharide of the lipopolysaccharide from E. coli O77 has been accomplished. Glycosylation reactions for the coupling of four monosaccharide building blocks of the tetrasaccharide were carried out employing the CB glycoside method, the mannosyl 4-pentenoate/PhSeOTf method, and the glycosyl trichloroacetimidate method with complete stereoselectivities in excellent yields