Influence of O6 in Mannosylations Using Benzylidene Protected Donors:Stereoelectronic or Conformational Effects?

The stereoselective synthesis of beta-mannosides and the underlying reaction mechanism have been thoroughly studied, and especially the benzylidene-protected mannosides have gained a lot of attention since the corresponding mannosyl triflates often give excellent selectivity. The hypothesis for the enhanced stereoselectivity has been that the benzylidene locks the molecule in a less reactive conformation with the O6 trans to the ring oxygen (O5), which would stabilize the formed alpha-triflate and subsequent give beta-selectivity. In this work, the hypothesis is challenged by using the carbon analogue (C7) of the benzylidene-protected mannosyl donor, which is investigated in terms of diastereoselectivity and reactivity and by low-temperature NMR In terms of diastereoselectivity, the C-7-analogue behaves similarly to the benzylidene-protected donor, but its low-temperature NMR reveals the formation of several reactive intermediate. One of the intermediates was found to be the beta-oxosulfonium ion. The reactivity of the donor was found to be in between that of the "torsional" disarmed and an armed donor.