Sulfonate protecting groups. Synthesis of O- and C-methylated inositols: d- and l-ononitol, d- and l-laminitol, mytilitol and scyllo-inositol methyl ether

Syntheses of d- and l-ononitol, d- and l-laminitol, mytilitol and scyllo-inositol methyl ether starting from myo-inositol are described. One or two of the myo-inositol 1,3,5-orthoformate hydroxyl groups were protected as tosylates. These mono or ditosylates served as key intermediates for the preparation of O- and C-methyl inositols. Racemic 2,4-di-O-tosyl-myo-inositol 1,3,5-orthoformate was resolved as its diastereomeric camphanates. Use of sulfonate groups for the protection of inositol hydroxyl groups resulted in substantial improvement in the overall yield of O- and C-methyl inositols.