Synthesis of tetrazole-fused glycosides by a tandem fragmentation-cyclization reaction.

The fragmentation of anomeric alkoxyl radicals (ARF) and the subsequent intramolecular cyclization promoted by hypervalent iodine reagents provide an excellent method for the synthesis of tetrazolo-sugars. This new reaction offers additional advantages for the synthesis of these compounds, including the ready availability of the starting materials, experimental simplicity, mild conditions, and good yields.