Rapid preparation of variously protected glycals using titanium(III)

Glycosyl chlorides and bromides can be rapidly converted to glycals in high yield by reaction with (Cp₂Ti[III]Cl)₂. This reagent tolerates a wide range of common carbohydrate protecting groups, including silyl ethers, acetals, and esters; the methodology provides a general route for the preparation of glycals substituted with both acid- and base-labile functionality. A reaction mechanism is proposed that is based on heteroatom abstraction to give an intermediate glycosyl radical. This radical reacts with a second equivalent of Ti(III) to yield a glycosyltitanium(IV) species. β-Heteroatom elimination from the glycosyltitanium(IV) complex gives the glycal.