Glycosylation of 12 beta-acetoxy-dammar-24-en-3 beta,20(S)-diol (4), w
ith hepta-O-acetyl-alpha-sophorosyl bromide (5) under catalysis by Ag2
CO3 or Ag2O afforded a chromatographically unseparated mixture of the
alpha-and beta-linked octaacetates 6 and 7 in an approximately 2.5:1 r
atio. After deprotection and chromatographic purification, the free al
pha- (8) and beta-glycosides (9) were obtained. Sophoroside 9 was iden
tical in all respects with ginsenoside Rg(3), the minor component of G
inseng Radix rubra. All compounds were fully characterized by H-1 and
C-13 NMR spectroscopy, (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reser
ved.