2,4-dimethoxybenzyl: An amide protecting group for 2-acetamido glycosyl donors

2,4-Dimethoxybenzyl (Dmob) was used as an amide protecting group for 2-acetamido glycosyl donors. The N-Dmob group was introduced by imine formation between 2,4-dimethoxybenzaldehyde and d-glucosamine, followed by per-O-acylation, reduction to form the amine, and finally N-acetylation to give 1,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-2-(2,4-dimetboxybenzylacetamido)-beta -D-glucopyranose. Selective 1-O-deacetylation and treatment with trichloroacetonitrile gave the corresponding trichloroacetimidate glycosyl donor. Lewis acid-promoted glycosylations of the model substrate 3-nitrobenzyl alcohol gave exclusively the P-glycoside product, either with or without the Dmob protecting group remaining depending on the reagent and conditions employed. The N-Dmob protected 1-O-acetate glucosyl donor gave higher glycosylation yields than the corresponding 2-acetamido glucosyl donor without Dmob protection.