Synthesis of a jojoba bean disaccharide

A synthesis of the disaccharide recently isolated from jojoba beans, 2-O-α-d-galactopyranosyl-d-chiro-inositol, has been achieved. The suitably protected chiro-inositol unit was prepared by an enantiospecific synthesis from l-xylose utilizing SmI2-mediated pinacol coupling as a key step.