Synthesis of a C-linked hyaluronic acid disaccharide mimetic.

The synthesis of a C-disaccharide that is designed as a mimetic for the repeating unit disaccharide of hyaluronic acid is described. The target compound was obtained via the SmI2-promoted coupling reaction of the sulfone, 2-acetamido-4,6-O-benzylidene-3-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-1,2-dideoxy-1-pyridinylsulfonyl-beta-D-glucopyranose (6), and the aldehyde, p-methoxyphenyl 2,3-di-O-benzyl-4-deoxy-4-C-formyl-6-O-p-methoxybenzyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (14).