Glycosylated trehalose. Synthesis of the oligosaccharides of the glycolipid-type antigens from Mycobacterium smegmatis.

The oligosaccharide components, 3-O-Me-beta-D-Glcp-(1----3)-beta-D-Glcp-(1----4)-beta-D-Glcp-(1----6)- alpha-D-Glcp-(1----1)-alpha-D-Glcp (1) and beta-D-Glcp-(1----4)-beta-D-Glcp-(1----6)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1----1)-alpha-D- Glcp, of the glycolipid-type antigens isolated from M. smegmatis have been synthesised from 2,3,4,2',3',4',6'-hepta-O-acetyl-alpha,alpha-trehalose and the appropriate glycosyl bromides under Helferich conditions with Hg(CN)2 as the promoter. Condensation of the trisaccharide glycosyl bromide 27 gave an orthoester derivative (28) which could be rearranged, using HgBr2 or boron trifluoride etherate, into the acetylated derivative (29) of 1. The model compound beta-D-Glcp-(1----6)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1----1)-alpha-D-Glcp has also been synthesised.