A convenient preparation of glycosyl chlorides from aryl/alkyl thioglycosides.

[reaction: see text]Because of the vast structural diversity encountered in the field of glycobiology, versatile methods for orthogonal oligosaccharide assembly are always of interest. Reported herein is the preparation of glycosyl chloride donors obtained by reaction of the corresponding thioglycoside precursors with chlorosulfonium chloride reagent 4. The crude chlorides thus obtained can be used directly in subsequent glycosylation reactions, and examples of the generality of this approach are provided.