Synthesis of Thioglycoside Analogues of Maradolipid

We describe here the first synthesis of thioglycoside analogues of maradolipid, based on a new procedure for the synthesis of 1-thiotrehalose developed recently in our laboratories. The challenging alpha,alpha-(1 -> 1') thioglycosidic linkage was constructed by Schmidt's inverse procedure in very high yield and excellent stereoselectivity. Subsequent protecting group manipulation and coupling with different fatty acids led smoothly to a group of symmetrical and unsymmetrical thiomaradolipids which would be of high value for biological studies.