Regioselective conversion of primary alcohols into iodides in unprotected methyl furanosides and pyranosides

Two methods are described for the regioselective displacement of the primary hydroxy group in methyl glycosides with iodide. The first method is a modification of a literature procedure employing triphenylphosphine and iodine, where purification has been carried out on a reverse phase column in order to efficiently separate the desired iodoglycosides from triphenylphosphine oxide. The second method employs a new procedure using sulfonylation in pyridine with sterically hindered 2,4,6-trichloro- and 2,4,6-tribromobenzenesulfonyl chloride. The sulfonates thus formed are effective leaving groups and substitution with iodide can be carried out in a one-pot process. Protection of the iodoglycosides is also described either by benzylation with benzyl trichloroacetimidate or silylation with triethylsilyl chloride.