Microwave-assisted synthesis of N-glycolylneuraminic acid derivatives

Abstract A rapid, efficient and scalable synthesis of biologically-relevant N -glycolylneuraminic acid derivatives from the natural N -acetyl (Neu5Ac) precursors has been developed. Microwave irradiation provides accelerated de-N-acetylation compared to more traditional methods, with optimised NaOH-promoted de-N-acetylation in only 15 min. The prepared amines were readily re-N-acylated to afford the corresponding N -glycolyl (Neu5Gc) analogues.