Diphenylacetyl chloride is used as a protective reagent for methyl alp
ha-D-glucopyranoside, methyl alpha-D-mannopyranoside, and alpha,alpha-
trehalose showing a good regioselectivity. The obtained diphenylacetyl
esters were readily removed under neutral and mild conditions with N-
bromosuccinimide followed by thiourea, in a one-pot reaction, in the p
resence of acetyl or benzoyl groups.