Regioselective functionalization of unprotected myo-inositol by electrophilic substitution

Unprotected myo-inositol was treated with various electrophiles, such as aroyl chlorides, tosyl chloride and tert-butyldiphenylsilyl chloride in a solution of LiCl/DMA or DMSO to afford regioselectively 1,3-di-O-substituted or racemic 1-O-substituted derivatives, depending on a quantity of reagents and reaction time. α-Unbranched alkanoic acid anhydrides in LiCl/DMA in the presence of triethylamine were suitable for acylation of myo-inositol, in contrast to the fact that acylation using alkanoyl chlorides in aprotic polar solvents generally does not proceed well due to decomposition of the reagents by the reaction with the solvents.