Concise synthesis of a pentasaccharide related to the anti-leishmanial triterpenoid saponin isolated from Maesa balansae.

Concise synthesis of the glycone part (a pentasaccharide) of the anti-leishmanial triterpenoid saponin isolated from Maesa balansae is reported. A late-stage TEMPO-mediated oxidation of a primary hydroxyl group to carboxylic acid has been achieved under phase-transfer conditions. Glycosylations were performed either by thioglycoside or glycosyl trichloroacetimidate activation using sulfuric acid immobilized on silica (H2SO4-silica) in conjunction with N-iodosuccinimide and alone, respectively. H2SO4-silica was proved to be a better choice as promoter than conventional Lewis acid promoters such as TfOH or TMSOTf.