Ceric(IV) ammonium nitrate-catalyzed glycosidation of glycals: a facile synthesis of 2,3-unsaturated glycosides

Glycosidation of glycals with alcohols in the presence of a catalytic amount of ceric(IV) ammonium nitrate under neutral conditions proceeds smoothly in refluxing acetonitrile to afford the corresponding 2,3-unsaturated glycosides in excellent yields.