Potassium carbonate-mediated β-selective anomeric O-alkylation with primary electrophiles: Application to the synthesis of glycosphingolipids.

[Display omitted] Stereoselective construction of a variety of β-glycosides can be achieved using abundant and inexpensive K 2 CO 3 -mediated stereoselective anomeric O-alkylation of sugar lactols with primary electrophiles. In addition, application of this methodology to the synthesis of various azido-modified glycosphingolipids has been accomplished in good yields and excellent anomeric selectivity using sphingosine-derived primary triflate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]