An Efficient Approach to the Synthesis of Lacto-N-Triosylceramide and Related Substances

Abstract
Hexatriosyl fluorides 3 and 4 were prepared from the known trisaccharides 8 and 13, respectively. These compounds were reacted with the sphingosine derivative 2 to afford coupled products 22 and 25 which, in turn, were converted into the protected glycosphingolipids 23 and 26 after reduction and acylation. Compound 2 was found to be a better substrate than the protected ceramide 1, which had been used previously. Compound 23 was transformed into the lacto-N-triosylceramide 24.