Cu-Fe Spinels: First Heterogeneous and Magnetically Recoverable Catalyst for the Ferrier Rearrangement of 2-Nitroglycals

Cu-Fe spinels promoted the Ferrier rearrangement of 2-nitroglycals with several O-nucleophiles. 2,3-Unsaturated carbohydrate derivatives were prepared by the reaction of 3,4,6-tri-Oacetyl- 2-nitroglucal and alcohols in the presence of 5 % of CuFe2O4. After separation of the catalyst with an external magnet, the reaction products were obtained in good yields and high stereo and regioselectivity. Also, S- and heterocyclic C-3 substituted 2-nitro-endo-glycals could be prepared by this method.