The impacts of benzoyl and benzyl groups on the non-covalent interactions and electronic properties of glycosyl acceptors

Modulating the reactivity of glycosyl acceptors has become a key in promoting the chemical synthesis of complex glycans. Herein, computational chemistry was employed to explore the impacts of protecting groups on the non-covalent interactions and electronic properties of glycosyl acceptors. Wavefunction analyses showed that substituting benzoyl groups with benzyl groups and introducing a benzyl group to the C2 amine of a D-GlcpNAc residue can eliminate intra-/intermolecular hydrogen bonds, thereby altering the charge distribution significantly. This protecting group-induced charge distribution increases the nucleophilicity of hydroxyl group. This study may contribute to understanding the assistance of computational chemistry in glycan synthesis.