Carbohydrate-DNA Conjugation Enabled by Glycosyl Radicals Generated from Glycosyl Sulfinates.

Herein, we report a method that enables the synthesis of carbohydrate-DNA conjugates by radical addition. Key to the success is the use of readily available, bench-stable, and unprotected glycosyl sulfinates as precursors to glycosyl radicals. The redox neutral reaction proceeds under mild and simple conditions and tolerates a broad substrate scope. A small library of carbohydrate-DNA conjugates was prepared.