InBr3-catalyzed cyclization of glycosides with arylamines

Glycals have served as excellent substrates in the glycosidation reactions with arylamines to construct both C–C and C–N linkages simultaneously. However, the high reactivity and moisture/alcohol-sensitivity is also responsible for several side reactions. Herein we reported that 2,3-unsaturated glycosides can be used as alternatives of glycals to take part in the corresponding glycosidation as well. Therefore, with 10% of InBr3 or InI3 as the catalyst, 2,3-unsaturated glycosides containing various C-1 alkoxy groups reacted with arylamines smoothly and produced the glycosidation products in moderate to good yields as a pair of diastereomers with variant diastereoselectivity.