“Green” oxidation reactions—application to carbohydrate chemistry

Oxidation of glycals by either methyltrioxorhenium (MTO)–hydrogen peroxide or hydrogen peroxide–acetonitrile in methanol provides direct access to methyl glycosides. The two different reagents proceed with a complementary stereochemical outcome enabling the synthesis of β-D-gluco-pyranosides or α-D-manno-pyranosides from the same carbohydrate precursor.