SYNTHESIS OF A FUCOSE HEXASACCHARIDE

The facile synthesis of a homogeneously alpha,1 --> 2 interglycosidica lly linked fucose hexasaccharide 17 via the disaccharide methylthio do nor 10 is reported. Compound 10 in turn was synthesised from a monosac charide thiomethyl precursor in three consecutive steps. Glycosylation employing thioglycosides activated by copper bromide/tetrabutylammoni um bromide proved to be selective for the formation of alpha-glycosidi c linkages.