2,3:4,6-Di-O-isopropylidene-D-glucopyranose and -D-galactopyranose acetals
are conveniently prepared by hydrogenolysis of benzyl 2,3:4,6-di-O-isopropy
lidene-beta-D-glucopyranose and -beta-D-galactopyranose in almost quantitat
ive yields in 3 h. This result is in contrast with the sluggish reaction ob
served (48 h) when the hydrogenolysis was carried out on either anomeric al
pha,beta mixtures or on the corresponding a anomers. (C) 1999 Elsevier Scie
nce Ltd. All rights reserved.