A facile synthesis of 1,2-anhydroglycofuranose benzyl ethers

The synthesis of 1,2-anhydromanno-, -lyxo-, -gluco-, and -xylofuranose benzyl ethers was successfully achieved via intramolecular Sn2 reaction of the corresponding C-1 alkoxide with C-2 bearing tosyloxy group. The key intermediates, furanose 2-sulfonates, were prepared from the corresponding 1,2-diols and tosyl chloride under phase transfer condition in good yields.