Scope of AuCl3 in the activation of per-O-acetylglycals

Gold(III)chloride in catalytic amounts activates 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-D-glucal, 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-D-galactal, and 3,4-di-O-acetyl-L-rhamnal efficiently. The activated species can be employed in the Ferrier reaction with different nucleophiles at ambient conditions. Attempts have been made to make beta-anomer of the Ferrier product from anomeric-O-propargylated Ferrier product. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.