Facile Preparation of α-Glycosyl Iodides by In Situ Generated Aluminum Iodide: Straightforward Synthesis of Thio-, Seleno-, and O-glycosides from Unprotected Reducing Sugars

A facile and practical protocol was developed for the synthesis of glycosyl iodides using AlI3 generated in situ from cheap aluminum metal and molecular iodine. Furthermore, in combination with iodine-catalyzed per-O-acetylation, sequential synthesis of per-acetylated glycosyl iodides, per-acetylated thioglycosides, selenoglycoside, and O-glycosides from unprotected reducing sugars was also achieved with complete diastereocontrol in a one-pot version. Supplemental material is available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Journal of Carbohydrate Chemistry to view the free supplemental file.