Stereospecific synthesis of α- and β-C-glycosides from glycosyl sulfoxides:: Scope and limitations

C-Glycosides derived from alpha -L-fuco-, alpha -D-gluco-, beta -D-gluco-, and alpha -D-mannopyranose have been synthesized from the corresponding glycosyl phenyl sulfoxide through phenylsulfinyl-lithium exchange, to generate an anomeric carbanion, and subsequent reaction with a carbon electrophile. The reactions were stereospecific and proceeded with retention of the configuration at the anomeric center. Improved yields of C-glycosides were obtained by an inverse addition protocol. Trapping of the anomeric carbanion with aldehydes gave best results. Reaction with ketones, chloroformates, nitriles, and alkyl halides was also explored. Mechanistic aspects of the reaction are discussed.