A direct and stereospecific approach to the synthesis of alpha-glycosyl thiols.

A new simple method for the synthesis of alpha-glycosyl thiols is described. Ring-opening of 1,6-anhydrosugars with commercially available bis(trimethylsilyl)sulfide under the action of catalytic amounts of TMSOTf smoothly afforded alpha-glycosyl thiols in very high yields and in a stereospecific way.