An efficient synthesis of GDP-hexanolamine, a key tool for the purification of fucosyltransferases

A new efficient synthesis of GDP-hexanolamine from hexanolamine is reported with an overall yield of 71%. The pyrophosphate formation, the key step of this preparation, was achieved through a sequential GMP activation procedure based on polytrifluoroacetylation of GMP followed by activation of the phosphate group by 1-methylimidazole.