A tetrasaccharide sequence of Rhamnogalacturonan I has been synthesized starting from commercially available D-galacturonic acid and L-rhamnose. This synthesis relies on only two protected monosaccharides and proceeds through a common disaccharide intermediate. Synthesis of this tetrasaccharide has been designed to allow for the addition of branching elements at the 4-positions of the rhamnosyl units, or further chain elongation at the 2-position.*; *Please refer to dissertation for diagrams. |