A Novel and Efficient Route towards α-GalNAc-Ser and α-GalNAc-Thr Building Blocks for Glycopeptide Synthesis

Michael addition of serine and threonine derivatives 4a–4c to 3,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-2-nitro-D-galactal (1) afforded the corresponding 2-deoxy-2-nitro-α-D-galactopyranosides 5a–5c in good yield and stereoselectivity. 2-deoxy-2-nitroglycosides 5a and 5b were reduced to the 2-acetamido compounds by platinized Raney nickel T4. Manipulation of the protecting groups afforded known N-Fmoc-O-(2-acetamido-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-α-D-galactopyranosyl)-L-serine (8a) and -threonine (8b), valuable building blocks for O-glycopeptide synthesis.