An efficient route to thioglycosides with the 2,3-anhydro-d-ribo stereochemistry

An improved route for the synthesis of p-tolyl 2,3-anhydro-5-O-benzoyl-1-thio-β-d-ribofuranoside and its α anomer, which are important intermediates in the synthesis of α- and β-d-arabinofuranosides, has been developed. The products are obtained in six steps from d-xylose in 39% overall yield.