Preparation and calculated conformations of the 2'-, 3'-, 4'-, and 6'-deoxy, 3'-O-methyl, 4'-epi, and 4'- and 6'-deoxy-fluoro derivatives of methyl 4-O-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (methyl beta-D-galabioside).

The glycosyl chlorides of the 3-O-methyl (6) and 4-deoxy-4-fluoro (8) O-benzylated derivatives of D-galactopyranose and 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-D-glucopyranose were condensed with methyl 2,3,6-tri-O-benzoyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside to give, after deprotection, the 3'-O-methyl (23), 4'-deoxy-4'-fluoro (25), and 4'-epi (27) derivatives, respectively, of methyl beta-D-galabioside (1). The glycosyl fluorides of 2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-D-fucopyranose and the 3-deoxy (12) and 4-deoxy (16) O-benzylated derivatives of D-galactopyranose were condensed with methyl 2,3,6-tri-O-benzyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (21), to give, after deprotection, the 6'-deoxy (31), 3'-deoxy (34), and 4'-deoxy (37) derivatives of 1, respectively. The 2'-deoxy (41) derivative of 1 was prepared by N-iodosuccinimide-induced condensation of 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-D-galactal and 21 followed by deprotection. Treatment of methyl 2,3,6-tri-O-benzoyl-4-O-(2,3-di-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl)-beta -D- galactopyranoside with Et2NSF3 (DAST), followed by deprotection, provided the 6'-deoxy-6'-fluoro (46) derivative of 1. Molecular mechanics calculations yielded conformations for 23, 25, 27, 31, 34, 37, 41, and 46 with small deviations from the calculated conformation for 1 (phi H/psi H: -40 degrees/-6 degrees).