De novo synthesis of a 2-acetamido-4-amino-2,4,6-trideoxy-D-galactose (AAT) building block for the preparation of a Bacteroides fragilis A1 polysaccharide fragment.

Zwitterionic polysaccharides (ZPSs) are potent T-cell activators that naturally occur on the cell surface of bacteria and show potential as immunostimulatory agents. An unusual, yet important component of many ZPSs is 2-acetamido-4-amino-2,4,6-trideoxy-D-galactose (AAT). AAT building block 2 was prepared via a de novo synthesis from N-Cbz-L-threonine 5. Furthermore, building block 2 was used to synthesize disaccharide 15 that constitutes a fragment of zwitterionic polysaccharide A1 (PS A1) found in Bacteroides fragilis.