Zinc mediated activation of terminal alkynes: stereoselective synthesis of alkynyl glycosides

Zinc mediated alkynylation reaction was studied for the preparation of C-glycosides from unactivated alkynes. Different glycosyl donors such as glycals and anomeric acetates were tested towards an alkynyl zinc reagent obtained from alkynes using zinc dust and ethyl bromoacetate as an additive. The method provides simple, mild and stereoselective access to alkynyl glycosides both from aromatic and aliphatic acetylenes.