Iron-Catalyzed Aerobic Hydration of Glycal: A Route toward Deoxy Sugars/Glycosides

We report an iron-catalyzed protocol for the efficient functionalization of glycals. Employing inexpensive iron(III) or iron(II) chloride as a catalyst and phenylsilane (PhSiH₃) as an additive, this method enables the high-yield synthesis of 2-deoxy sugars and glycosides. A key modification of the Mukaiyama hydration reaction, this approach directly utilizes air as the oxygen source. It demonstrates robust activity across both protected and unprotected glycals, with notably excellent yields observed for ester-protected substrates. Its utility is further highlighted through coupling reactions with bioactive molecules, affording diverse 2-deoxy sugar derivatives.