A General Method for Stepwise Elongation of the (1→5)-α-D-Arabinofuranan Chain

Abstract
Condensation reaction of 3,5-di-O-benzoyl-1,2-O-(1-cyanoben-zylidene)-β-D-arabinofuranose (2) with benzyl and allyl 2,3-di-O-benzoyl-5-O-triphenylmethyl-α-L-arabinofuranosides (5a and 5b) in methylene chloride in the presence of triphenylcarbenium tetrafluoroborate as catalyst under high vacuum gave α-(1→5)-linked dimeric D-arabinofuranoside derivatives (6a and 6b). One of the dimeric compounds (6a) was debenzoylated, triphenylmethylated, and rebenzoylated to give a dimeric homolog of 5a (8). Similarly for the preparation of 6a, 8 was condensed with 2 to provide an α-(1→5)-linked trimeric D-arabinofuranoside derivative (9). Further elongation of the glycoside chain might be possible in the same way.