Disaccharide nucleosides are an important class of natural compounds that have a variety of biological activities. In this study, we report on the synthesis of disaccharide nucleosides utilizing the temporary protection of the 2',3'-cis-diol of ribonucleosides, such as adenosine, guanosine, uridine, 5-metyluridine, 5-fluorouridine and cytidine, by a boronic ester. The temporary protection of the above ribonucleosides permits the regioselective O-glycosylation of the 5'-hydroxyl group with thioglycosides using a p-toluenesulfenyl chloride (p-TolSCl)/silver triflate (AgOTf) promoter system to afford the corresponding disaccharide nucleosides in fairly good chemical yields. The formation of a boronic ester prepared from uridine and 4-(trifluoromethyl)phenylboronic acid was examined by ¹H, 11B and 19F NMR spectroscopy.
Keywords: boronic ester; disaccharide nucleoside; glycosylation; temporary protection.