We present herein an improved synthesis of nitro sugars, consisting of a Henry-type reaction of bromonitromethane and sugar aldehydes. The reaction can be promoted by either SmI2 or indium metal, yielding in both cases high yields and good diastereoisomeric ratios. However, while the SmI2-promoted reaction is very sensitive to steric factors and only gives satisfactory results with bromonitromethane, the indium-mediated reaction is not subjected to this limitation, giving excellent results with bromonitromethane as well as more hindered bromonitroalkanes.
Key words
carbohydrates - Henry reaction - 2-nitroalkanols - samarium - indium