Electrochemical generation of glycosyl triflate pools

Glycosyl triflates, which serve as important intermediates in glycosylation reactions, were generated and accumulated by the low-temperature electrochemical oxidation of thioglycosides such as thioglucosides, thiogalactosides, and thiomannosides in the presence of tetrabutylammonium triflate (Bu(4)NOTf) as a supporting electrolyte. Thus-obtained solutions of glycosyl triflates (glycosyl triflate pools) were characterized by low-temperature NMR measurements. The thermal stability of glycosyl triflates and their reactions with glycosyl acceptors were also examined.