Monomethyl and dimethyl ethers of methyl β-D-xylopyranoside

Abstract

The preparative advantages of partial methylation with subsequent separation of isomers over standard syntheses of individual derivatives are presented on the case of the methylation of methyl β-D-xylopyranoside (I). All seven possible methyl ethers were isolated in reasonable yields from a single reaction. Literature data concerning methyl 2,3-di-O-methyl-β-D-xylopyranoside (V) and methyl 2,4-di-O-methyl-β-D-xylopyranoside (VI) have been revised.