A simple synthesis of 8-(methoxycarbonyl)octyl 3,6-di-O-(α-d-mannopyranosyl)-α-d-mannopyranoside and derivatives and their use in the preparation of neoglycoconjugates

8-(Methoxycarbonyl)octyl 3,6-di-O-(α-d-mannopyranosyl)-α-d-mannopyranoside (10) was synthesized in 54% yield by regioselective diglycosylation of unprotected mannoside 4, employing the trichloroacetimidate donor 1, followed by debenzoylation. Derivatives of compounds 4 and 10 were used to prepare conjugates containing fluorochromes for the study of carbohydrate–lectin interactions, as well as conjugates with phospholipids for the preparation of liposomes.