Synthesis and Reactions of Carbohydrate Trifluoro-Methanesulfonates (Carbohydrate Triplates)

During the past decade a new leaving group, the trifluoromethanesufonate (triflate), has been used increasingly in displacement reactions in carbohydrate chemistry∗. The importance of this group has become progressively more apparent to the synthetic carbohydrate chemist as the examples of triflate displacement have increased. The number of applications of this reaction now has reached a sufficient magnitude that it seems appropriate to review what has been accomplished.