O- and N-sulfations of carbohydrates using sulfuryl imidazolium salts

A series of sulfuryl imidazolium salts (SISs) were prepared and examined as reagents for incorporating trichloroethyl-protected sulfate esters into carbohydrates. The SIS that contained a 1,2-dimethylimidazolium moiety (SIS 9) proved to be a superior sulfating compared to SISs bearing no alkyl groups or bulkier alkyl groups on the imidazolium ring. Difficult O-sulfations that required prolonged reaction times and a large excess of the SIS bearing a 1-methylimidazolium group (SIS 5) were achieved in high yield using less than half the amount of SIS 9 in less time. Certain N-sulfated compounds that were practically inaccessible using SIS 5 were obtained in excellent yield using SIS 9.