Synthesis of glycosyl phosphates from 1,2-orthoesters and application to in situ glycosylation reactions.

[reaction: see text] A series of glycosyl phosphates were prepared in high yield by treatment of the corresponding 1,2-orthoesters with dibutyl phosphate. Glycosyl phosphates are efficient glycosylating agents even when used in crude form or when generated in situ. The immunodominant epitope trirhamnoside of group B Streptococcus was prepared to demonstrate the synthetic utility of the method.