One-pot synthesis of beta-D-Galf(1-->4)[beta-D-Galp(1-->6)]-D-GlcNAc, a 'core' trisaccharide linked O-glycosidically in glycoproteins of Trypanosoma cruzi.

Tin(IV) chloride-promoted condensation of benzyl 2-acetamido-3-O-benzoyl-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranoside (4) with penta-O-benzoyl-beta-D-galactopyranose (6) gave the derivative of beta-D-Galp-(1-->6)-alpha-D-GlcNAc 7 in 80% yield. This was glycosylated with penta-O-benzoyl-alpha, beta-D-galactofuranose (5), employing the same catalyst, to afford the protected benzyl per-O-benzoyl-beta-D-Galf(1-->4)[beta-D-Galp(1-->6)]D-GlcNAc 10 in 41% yield. Alternatively, compound 10 was obtained directly in a one-pot reaction from 4, by sequential addition of 6 and 5 (34% yield). beta-Glycosidic linkages were diastereoselectively formed. De-O-benzoylation of 10, followed by heterogeneous catalytic transfer hydrogenolysis of the benzyl group afforded the free trisaccharide beta-D-Galf(1-->4)[beta-D-Galp(1-->6)]-D-GlcNAc (14) in 98% yield from 10. Sodium borohydride reduction of 14 gave the corresponding alditol, whose spectral data were identical to those reported for the alditol obtained from the 38-43 kDa cell-surface glycoprotein of Trypanosoma cruzi.