One-step synthesis of non-anomeric sugar isothiocyanates from sugar azides

Tandem Staudinger–aza-Wittig reaction of primary azidodeoxy sugars with triphenylphosphine–carbon disulfide affords the corresponding primary deoxyisothiocyanato sugars in high yield. No products arising from O→N acyl migration or formation of dimeric carbodiimides were observed. Interestingly, a polymer-supported triarylphosphine can advantageously replace triphenylphosphine, thus limiting the purification step to a simple filtration process. The reaction also allows the preparation of 5-deoxy-5-isothiocyanato sugars, a hitherto unknown class of compounds, from the corresponding azide precursors. Secondary sugar azides bearing the azido group at an endocyclic carbon atom afforded much lower isothiocyanation yields under these reaction conditions.