Synthesis of mono- and disaccharide amino-acid derivatives for use in solid phase peptide synthesis.

N-Fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl-protected serine and threonine derivatives, carrying O-glycosidically alpha- or beta-linked peracetylated beta-D-Galp-(1-3)-D-GalNAcp carbohydrate chains, were prepared. These derivatives are intended for use in solid phase glycopeptide synthesis. Suitably protected mono- and disaccharide thioglycosides were used as carbohydrate intermediates. These were activated by treatment with bromine to give the glycosyl bromides, which were then used in silver triflate-promoted glycosidations of N-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl amino-acid phenacyl esters. Removal of the phenacyl esters with zinc gave the target free acids.