From D- to L-Monosaccharide Derivatives via Photodecarboxylation-Alkylation

Photodecarboxylation-alkylation of conformationally locked monosaccharides leads to inversion of stereochemistry at CS. This allows the synthesis of L-sugars from their readily available D-counterparts. Via this strategy, methyl L-guloside was synthesized from methyl D-mannoside in 21% yield over six steps.