Reaction of carbohydrates with the sulphuryl chloride-N, N-dimethyl formamide reagent

Abstract

An investigation of the reaction of the sulphuryl chloride-N, N-dimethyl formamide reagent with several carbohydrate compounds, containing free hydroxyl groups, was undertaken, mainly with the view of looking at substitution of the hydroxyl groups with chlorine atoms. The reaction was found to lead to substitution of both primary and secondary hydroxyl groups with chlorine, with inversion of configuration in the latter case. The reagent was further found to effect formylation and chlorosulphation of secondary hydroxyl groups, where nucleophilic substitution by a chlorine was not favourable. Studies involving the methyl pentopyranosides, showed that the reagent was particularly useful in the chlorosulphation and chlorination of sugars, compared with the hexopyranosides.