Design and synthesis of a water-soluble taxol analogue : Taxol-sialyl conjugate

Glycosidation, using the methylthio derivative of N-acetylneuraminic acid 3, of linker alcohol 4 in DME with “long-range participation” produced the α-glycosyl linkage with high stereoselectivity. The α-linked sialic acid 2 was introduced in taxol without protection of the alcohol functionality in sialic acid.