Electrochemical reduction of α-D-glycopyranosyl bromides on a mercury cathode

The electrochem. redn. of α-D-glycopyranosyl bromides has been investigated both by cyclic voltammetry and const. potential electrolysis on a mercury cathode. In the presence of suitable radical acceptors such as acrylonitrile or resorcinol, the intermediate glycosyl radical formed during the first redn. step can react with formation of a CC or CO bond on the anomeric carbon. The reaction products of preliminary explorative electrolysis were isolated and characterized.