Synthesis of a trisaccharide component of the capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 19F

2-O-[4-O-(2-Acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-mannopyranosyl)-alpha-D- glucopyranosyl]-alpha,beta-L-rhamnopyranose, a structural component of the capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 19F, has been synthesized by sequential glycosylation reactions using the glycosyl acceptor 2,2,2-trichloroethyl 3,4-di-O-benzyl-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (prepared from the known 2-O-acetyl-3,4-di-O-benzyl-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl chloride), and the glycosyl donors 4-O-acetyl-2,3,6-tri-O-benzyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl chloride and 4,6-di-O-acetyl-2-azido-3-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl bromide (prepared in seven steps from the known methyl 2-azido-4,6-O-benzylidene-2-deoxy-alpha-D-altropyranoside). The corresponding 8-(methoxycarbonyl)octyl glycoside has also been synthesized, by coupling of 8-(methoxycarbonyl)octyl trifluoromethanesulfonate and the sodium salt of 2-O-[4-O-(2-acetamido-4,6-di-O-acetyl-3-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-beta-D- mannopyranosyl)-2,3,6-tri-O-benzyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl]-3,4-di-O- benzyl-alpha,beta-L-rhamnopyranose.