Ferrier–Nicholas pyranosidic cations: application to diversity-oriented synthesis
Abstract Pyranosidic allylic (Ferrier) cations that share dicobalt hexacarbonyl propargyl (Nicholas) stabilization at C-1, can be easily generated by treatment of hexacarbonyldicobalt alkynyl glycals with BF3·OEt2, and display a remarkable reactivity leading to a variety of products. The substituent at O-6 in these glycals plays a pivotal role in directing the outcome of the transformations. Accordingly, 6-O-benzyl or 6-O-allyl groups cause a series of transformations resulting in the stereoselective formation of oxepanes through a process that involves an initial hydride transfer step from the allyl or benzyl substituent to the Ferrier–Nicholas cation. On the contrary, 6-OH derivatives undergo an overall ring contraction to branched tetrahydrofuran derivatives. 6-O-Silyl derivatives, in the presence of heteroaryl nucleophiles, were transformed into C-3 branched bis-C-C-glycosides, containing two of such molecules.