2-Methoxyethyl Group for Protection of Reducing Hydroxyl Group of Aldose

A variety of benzylated 1-OH derivatives, having an acetyl or an allyl group, of d-glucose, d-galactose, d-mannose, d-xylose, l-arabinose, l-fucose, and l-rhamnose, were synthesized from the corresponding protected 2-methoxyethyl glycosides through a brief treatment with TiCl4 in dichloromethane and a subsequent hydrolysis of the intermediary 1-Cl derivatives on a silica-gel column.