Synthesis of a di- and a tri-saccharide related to the K-antigen of Klebsiella type 10 and a study of their inhibition in the precipitin reaction.

Syntheses of methyl 3-O-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-alpha-D-mannopyranoside (10) and methyl 3-O-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-2-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyluronic acid)-alpha-D-mannopyranoside (11) in good yield are described. Both 10 and 11 significantly inhibit antigen-antibody precipitation in the Klebsiella Type 10 immune system. The results provide more evidence for the structure (1) of the antigen from Klebsiella K-10 and its immunodominant grouping.