A synthesis of the disaccharide recently isolated from jojoba beans, 2
-O-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-D-chiro-inositol, has been achieved. The s
uitably protected chiro-inositol unit was prepared by an enantiospecif
ic synthesis from L-xylose utilizing SmI2-mediated pinacol coupling as
a key step. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.