Imidazole Promoted Efficient Anomerization of β-D-Glucose Pentaacetate in Solid State and Reaction Mechanism

Anomerization of glycosides was rarely performed under basic condition. Here an imidazole promoted anomerization of β-D-glucose pentaacetate in solid state at room temperature was discovered. This unprecedent anomerization in solid state occurred after simple mixing and reaction proceeded continuously to full conversion without stirring or mechanomixing. Current understanding of reaction mechanism involved with inter/intramolecular acyl transfer promoted by two imidazole in concerted manner may promote discovery of more new transformations of glucosides in solid state.