Patent ID: 8624006

Claim:
A method of preparing an unprotected α-O-glycolipid comprising the steps of: contacting a protected α-iodo sugar with a catalyst and a lipid comprising a hydroxy group, under conditions sufficient to prepare a protected α-O-glycolipid, wherein the protected α-iodo sugar is selected from the group consisting of: wherein each R 1 is independently selected from the group consisting of a trialkylsilyl and a protected saccharide, wherein the protected saccharide is protected with a trialkylsilyl, the catalyst is selected from the group consisting of a quaternary ammonium iodide salt, sodium iodide, potassium iodide and N-iodosuccinimide, and the lipid is a ceramide; and deprotecting the protected α-O-glycolipid under conditions sufficient to prepare the unprotected α-O-glycolipid, wherein the contacting and deprotecting steps are performed in a single vessel.