Oxazolidinone Protection of N-Acetylglucosamine Confers High Reactivity on the 4-Hydroxy Group in Glycosylation

[reaction: see text] The preparation of a convenient oxazolidinone protected N-acetyl glucosamine 4-OH derivative is reported. This substance exhibits enhanced reactivity as a glycosyl acceptor in a variety of coupling methods, the products of which are converted to the target N-acetylglucosaminyl saccharides under very mild conditions.