Glucuronic acid-based ulosyl donors for introducing α-d-GlcA and β-d-ManA units

Practical protocols are described for a five-step conversion of d-glucuronolactone into α-d-arabino-2-ketoglucuronyl bromides, which due to their α-selective or β-specific glycosidation, and gluco- or manno-specific carbonyl reductions of the glucurono-2-ulosides formed, are expedient indirect donor substrates for the efficient introduction of α-d-GlcA or β-d-ManA residues.