Efficient installation of β-mannosides using a dehydrative coupling strategy

A new coupling procedure for the construction of the challenging beta-mannosidic bond is described. Dehydrative mannosylation using 4,6-O-benzylidene mannopyranoses allows for the formation of beta-mannosides in excellent yield. The stereoselectivity is generally good but influenced by the exact nature of the glycosylating agent and the nucleophile.