Synthesis of 2-deoxy mucin-type O-glycan analogues as biological probes

Access to mucin-type O-glycans as tools to help further our understanding of the biological role of these complex molecules is of importance. Herein, we report the efficient stereoselective synthesis of four novel 2-deoxyglycoside mucin-type O-glycan analogues. The strategy relies on the use of two common glycoside acceptors bearing a free OH at either C-3 or C-6 and two different orthogonally protected glycal donors, which can be activated using organocatalytic methods or Brønsted acid catalysis in good yields and stereocontrol.