Synthesis of the methyl thioglycosides of four stereoisomers and the 2-methoxy derivative of l-fucose

The methyl 1-thioglycoside derivative of 2-epi-, 2,4-di-epi-, 3-epi-, 4-epi, and 2-O-methyl-l-fucopyranose have been prepared as glycosyl donors for the synthesis of sialyl Lex ganglioside analogues containing modified α-l-fucopyranose residues.