Abstract
A facile iodine-catalyzed glycosylation of the hydroxyethyl side chain as present in thienamycin side chain has been achieved with tri-O-acetyl-D-glucal. This method has produced two separable diasteromeric alpha-glycosides in excellent yields which oil acid-induced cleavage have provided two optically pure alcohols. The absolute stereochemistry of the products has been determined from physiochemical data.