Selective Acylation of 4,6-O-Benzylidene Glycopyranosides by Enzymatic Catalysis

Abstract
Selective acylation of different hydroxyls is of great importance, and widespread applications are found in carbohydrate chemistry.1 Ass protecting groups, esters offer the advantage of being easily prepared and easily removed, and accordingly, partially acylated monosaccharides have been used for the preparation of other O-substituted derivatives as well as for the synthesis of oligosaccharides. For this latter purpose 4,6-O-benzylidene-D-glycopyranosides like la, once selectively modified at one of their two free hydroxy groups, are particularly suitable compounds.