Synthesis of Floridoside

Abstract

Floridoside (2-O-glycerol-α-D-galactopyranoside) is a natural glycerol glycoside found in red algae and is believed to play important roles in carbon storage, transport, and assimilation and in the regulation of osmotic balance. We describe here a rapid, high-yield, and high-stereoselectivity synthesis of floridoside in which the key step involves the 1,2-cis O-glycosylation of 1,3-dibenzylglycerol with ethyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-1-thio-β-D-galactopyranoside using iodonium dicollidine perchlorate (IDCP) or N-iodosuccinimide/trimethylsilyl triflate (NIS/TMSOTf) as promoters.