Synthesis of carbohydrates with an anomeric thiol moiety for elaboration into metabolically stable thioglycosides

The synthesis of thioglycosides for use as metabolically stable biological probes is an area of continued interest. This paper describes the synthesis of functionalised carbohydrates which contain an anomeric thio group. Duri ng the course of this work we have examined the most viable route into comp ounds such as the specifically functionalised carbohydrates 36 and 37, and have also investigated the usefulness of disulfides as protecting groups fo r anomeric thiols.