O-Alkylation versus C-alkylation under Mitsunobu conditions

A comparative study of the Mitsunobu reaction at C1 and C6 positions of mannose using bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) malonate as nucleophile is disclosed. While C-alkylation was predominant at the C6 position, only O-alkylation occurred at the anomeric position of the carbohydrate. Some factors playing a role in the selectivity of the reaction are discussed and an inverse mechanism of the Mitsunobu reaction for the anomeric position is proposed.