Facile synthesis of benzyl β-d-galactofuranoside. A convenient intermediate for the synthesis of d-galactofuranose-containing molecules

Benzyl β-d-galactofuranoside was efficiently obtained from 1,2,3,5,6-penta-O-benzoyl-α,β-d-galactofuranose, via benzyl 2,3,5,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-β-d-galactofuranoside. Conditions for the O-debenzylation were investigated in order to evaluate the synthetic application of the benzyl group as an anomeric protector of a galactofuranose moiety in synthetic strategies involving galactofuranose.