Efficient microwave-assisted synthesis of 1',2,3,3',4,4',6-hepta-O-benzyl-sucrose and 1',2,3,3',4,4'-Hexa-O-benzylsucrose

Methods used to produce and purify carbohydrate derivatives are often tedious and complex, which makes the synthesis of selectively protected sucrose derivatives laborious. Clearly, there is a need for simpler procedures and faster and environmentally friendlier heating methods, and these can be provided by the use of microwave techniques. Protocols presented in this chapter (Scheme 14.1) allow significant reduction of time and energy compared with other routes and have potential for automatization of tedious multi-step syntheses of useful sucrose derivatives.