Rapid and clean microwave-assisted synthesis of N-acetylneuraminic acid methyl ester and its β-methyl glycoside

The effect of microwave irradiation on the synthesis of N-acetylneuraminic acid methyl ester and its β-methyl glycoside is investigated. On a 1 g scale, a high yield (94%) of the methyl ester was obtained after 15 min at 80 °C. Acceleration of the glycosidation reaction was achieved, with the β-methyl glycoside isolated in good yield following optimisation of reaction conditions to 15 min at 120 °C.