Stereoselective Synthesis of Spiro Bis-C,C-α-arylglycosides by Tandem Heck Type C-Glycosylation and Friedel-Crafts Cyclization

Spiro bis-C,C-alpha-arylglycosides were synthesized in three steps in 78-85% overall yields starting from exo-glycals. The initial Heck type C-aryl addition of exo-glycals with arylboronic acids afforded alpha-aryl-beta-substituted C-glycosides with exclusive alpha-stereoselectivity. Among the products, beta-ethanal alpha-aryl C-glycosides further reacted with alkylthiol in the presence of InCl3, followed by in situ Friedel-Crafts cyclization to yield the desirable final products. We proposed a mechanism to explain how the alpha-aryl group serves as a main determinant of the cyclization.