Synthesis of 3‐<i>O</i>‐β‐<scp>D</scp>‐Glucopyranosyl‐(3<i>R</i>)‐hydroxybutanolide (Kinsenoside) and 3‐<i>O</i>‐β‐<scp>D</scp>‐Glucopyranosyl‐(3<i>S</i>)‐hydroxybutanolide (Goodyeroside A)

The first synthesis of 3‐O‐β‐D‐glucopyranosyl‐(3R)‐hydroxybutanolide (Kinsenoside) and 3‐O‐β‐D‐glucopyranosyl‐(3S)‐hydroxybutanolide (Goodyeroside A) is described. The diastereomers of the aglycon in 2‐O‐β‐D‐gulucopyranosyl‐1,2,4‐butanetriol derivatives, which were separable precursors of Kinsenoside and Goodyeroside A, were synthesized from optically nonactive 1,2,4‐butanetriol and α‐D‐glucopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate in excellent yields. Keywords: GlycosideGlycosylationLactoneNatural productOxidation Acknowledgment This work was supported in part by a grant for the High‐Technology Research Center of Iwaki Meisei University from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan.