The 4,6-benzylidene acetal of methyl 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-alpha,beta-D-glucopyr
anoside underwent inversion at C-3 via an oxidation-reduction sequence, and
treatment of the derived 3-acetate with N-bromosuccinimide in carbon tetra
chloride gave methyl 3-O-acetyl-4-O-benzoyl-6-bromo-2,6-dideoxy-2-fluoro-al
pha-D-allopyranoside (6). Dehydrobromination of 6 and reduction of the resu
ltant 5,6-ene gave the 5-epimer of 6, which after removal of the ester subs
tituents, afforded the title compound in good overall yield. (C) 1999 Elsev
ier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.