A convenient gram-scale synthesis of uridine diphospho(13C6)glucose

A simple gram-scale synthesis of uridine diphospho(13C6)glucose is presented from d-(13C6)glucose. The critical step uses a 1H-tetrazole-catalyzed coupling of 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-α-d-glucopyranosyl-1-phosphate and UMP-morpholidate. The uridine diphospho(13C6)glucose was used in the structural identification of (1→3)-β-d-glucan from Lolium multiflorum.