Iridium-catalysed condensation of alcohols and amines as a method for aminosugar synthesis

Primary carbohydrate amines at primary and secondary carbons are alkylated by alcohols in the presence of [Cp*IrCl2](2). When primary carbohydrate alcohols are used as the coupling partners and in the presence of Cs2CO3, amine-linked pseudodisaccharides are obtained. Secondary carbohydrate alcohols are unaffected under these conditions, which allows regioselective reactions.