Addition of difluoromethyl radicals to glycals:: A new route to α-CF2-D-glycosides

The synthesis of synthetically useful alpha-CF2-glycosides by radical addition of ethyl bromodifluoroacetate onto 2-benzyloxyglycals is described. The methodology provides an access to alpha-O-glycoside mimics and, potentially, to valuable alpha-O-glycoconjugate analogues.