Constant current electrolyses of the glycosyl donors phenyl and ethyl
3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-1-thio-beta-D-glucopyranoside in dry acetonitrile
in the presence of various primary and secondary sugar alcohols, perf
ormed in an undivided cell, gave beta-linked disaccharide derivatives
selectively in good yields. Phenyl ,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-1-thio-beta-D-
glucopyranoside gave the beta-glucosides exclusively in good to modera
te yields.