Scope of AuCl3 in the activation of per-O-acetylglycals

Gold(III)chloride in catalytic amounts activates 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-d-glucal, 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-d-galactal, and 3,4-di-O-acetyl-l-rhamnal efficiently. The activated species can be employed in the Ferrier reaction with different nucleophiles at ambient conditions. Attempts have been made to make β-anomer of the Ferrier product from anomeric-O-propargylated Ferrier product.