Hirao cross-coupling reaction as efficient tool to build non-natural C2-phosphonylated sugars.

A range of C2-phosphonylated sugars have been accessed through a palladium-catalyzed Hirao cross-coupling on 2-iodoglycals using trialkylphosphites as phosphorylating reagents. The developed conditions led to create an unnatural C-P bond on sugars and proved to be compatible with diversely protected glycals (acetyl-, benzyl-, PMB-protected) as well as with unprotected substrates. Several monosaccharides and one disaccharide have been synthesized by this methodology. Deprotection conditions were also described.