Photocatalytic Synthesis of Glycosyl Bromides

Abstract

Sugar hemiacetals were smoothly transformed into the corresponding glycosyl bromides by treatment with carbon tetrabromide in <i>N</i>,<i>N</i>-dimethylformamide with tris(2,2′-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) chloride as a catalyst under visible-light irradiation. Protecting groups commonly used in carbohydrate derivatives are unaffected by the mild conditions for bromination.