Synthesis of S-glycosyl thiophosphates, thiophosphonates and thiophosphinates by the Michaelis-Arbuzov rearrangement of anomeric thiocyanates.

Reaction of anomeric thiocyanates with a series of O-alkyl or O-trimethylsilyl phosphite, phenylphosphonite and diphenylphosphinite derivatives afforded the corresponding S-glycosyl thiophosphates, thiophosphonates and thiophosphinates in good yields. These derivatives had been previously applied as glycosyl donors in the synthesis of benzyl glycosides and disaccharides with excellent stereoselectivity.