Stereoselective synthesis of α-glycosyl azides: allyl glycosyl sulfones as radical precursors.

Despite their critical importance in drug development and biochemistry, efficiently synthesizing α-glycosyl azides has continued to pose significant challenges. In this report, we introduce a universal and practical radical reaction for the stereoselective synthesis of α-glycosyl azides using bench-stable allyl glycosyl sulfones as the donor. This method is characterized by its mild reaction conditions, high stereoselectivity, and extensive scope of glycosyl units. Moreover, the accessibility of several structurally complex drug-sugar conjugates underscores the practicality of our approach.