Solvent-free mechanochemical glycosylation in ball mill.

Starting from acetobromosugars and an alcohol (alkyl/substituted alkyl/akenyl/alkynyl/glyceryl/cyclohexyl/steryl) various O-glycosides have been prepared mechanochemically under solvent-free conditions employing a planetary ball mill in the presence of metal carbonates (environmentally benign or otherwise) as promoters. The method was proven to be mild and efficient and applicable on preparative scale for the synthesis of various mono- and disaccharide glycosides. 4-Pentenyl glycoside so produced could, in four successive reactions in the same pot, be converted in high isolated yields into triazole-substituted pentyl glycoside that can find application in the area of medicinal chemistry.