4-deoxy-4-fluoro-1,2-O-isopropylidene-β-D-xylo-hexulopyranose

A 5-stage synthesis of the title compound (11), the first example of a secondary deoxyfluoroketose, is described. The synthesis comprised the following reaction sequence: D-fructose→1,2:4,5-di-O-isopropylidene-β-D-fructopyranose (4)→1,2:4,5-di-O-isopropylidene-3-O-tosyl-β-D-fructopyranose (3)→ 3,4-anhydro-1,2-O-isopropylidene-β-D-ribo-hexulopyranose (9)→4-deoxy-fluoro-1,2-O-isopropylidene-β-D-xylo-hexulopyranose (11). Fluoride displacement at C-4 in 9 was effected with tetrabutyl-ammonium fluoride in methyl cyanide. Similar treatment of either 3 or 1,2:4,5-di-O-isopropylidene-3-O-tosyl-β-D-ribo-hexulopyranose (5) failed to yield a fluoro derivative. Compound 5 was prepared by the sequence 4→1,2:4,5-di-O-isopropylidene-β-D-erythro-hexo-2,3-diulopyranose (6)→1,2:4,5-di-O-isopropylidene-β-D-ribo-hexulopyranose (7)→5.