Synthesis of N-modified ganglioside GM3 derivatives

Ganglioside GM3 and its derivatives have many important biological functions. Using diethyl phosphite protected sialic acid as glycosyl donor and 3,2′,3′,4′-unprotected lactose as glycosyl acceptor, the sialic acid-containing trisaccharide was assembled with excellent anomeric stereoselectivity. The trisaccharide was further coupled with ceramide precursor to yield sphingosine 1. Based on this key intermediate, two different series of N-modified GM3 analogues with modifications on either the nitrogen of sialic acid residue or the nitrogen of ceramide moiety and GM3 itself were synthesized smoothly.