Facile synthesis of methyl α- and β-d-[6-3H]galactofuranosides from d-galacturonic acid. Substrates for the detection of galactofuranosidases

Galactofuranose metabolism is a good target for the development of novel chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of some microbial infections. A simple procedure for the synthesis of methyl (methyl α,β-d-galactopyranosid)uronate followed by NaB3H4 reduction gave a straightforward access to radiolabeled substrates for galactofuranosidases.