Efficient routes to glucosamine-myo-inositol derivatives, key building blocks in the synthesis of glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor substances

Short synthetic routes to protected derivatives of 2-amino-2-deoxy-a-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?6)-D-myo-inositol are described. Various 2-azido-2-deoxy-glucosyl donors were synthesized, starting from D-glucal or glucosamine hydrochloride. Derivatives of 1,2- and 2,3- D-myo-inositol-camphanylidene acetals were prepared to function as glycosyl acceptors. The subsequent glycosylations produced useful building blocks for the synthesis of GPI-anchor substances. © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.