Reaction Rate and Stereoselectivity Enhancement in Glycosidations with O-Glycosyl Trihaloacetimidate Donors due to Catalysis by a Lewis Acid-Nitrile Cooperative Effect.

Activation of O -glycosyl trihaloacetimidate glycosyl donors with AuCl 3 as a catalyst and pivalonitrile ( t BuCN) as a ligand led to excellent glycosidation results in terms of yield and anomeric selectivity. In this way, various β-d-gluco- and β-d-galactopyranosides were obtained conveniently and efficiently. Experimental studies and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, in order to elucidate the reaction course, support formation of the t BuCN-AuCl 2 -OR(H) + AuCl 4 - complex as a decisive intermediate in the glycosidation event. Proton transfer from this acceptor complex to the imidate nitrogen leads to donor activation. In this way, guided by the C-2 configuration of the glycosyl donor, the alignment of the acceptor complex enforces the stereoselective β-glycoside formation in an intramolecular fashion, thus promoting also a fast reaction course. The high stereocontrol of this novel 'Lewis acid-nitrile cooperative effect' is independent of the glycosyl donor anomeric configuration and without the support of neighboring group or remote group participation. The power of the methodology is shown by a successful glycoalkaloid solamargine synthesis.