Synthesis of 3-(2-aminoethylthio)propyl glycosides

Anomeric pairs of 3-(2-aminoethylthio)propyl d-galactopyranoside (4, 4a), d-glucopyranoside (5, 5a), and 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-d-glucopyranoside (6, 6a) were prepared by addition of 2-aminoethanethiol to the corresponding, anomeric, allyl glycosides. The allyl α-glycosides were prepared by refluxing the sugars with allyl alcohol in the presence of an acid catalyst; the allyl β-glycosides were prepared by the reaction of acetylated glycosyl bromides with allyl alcohol in the presence of mercuric cyanide, followed by O-deacetylation. The rate of thiol addition to the allylic group was found to be different for each glycoside.