Use of olefin cross-metathesis to release azide-containing sugars from solid support.

[reaction: see text] The octenediol linker used during automated oligosaccharide assembly is cleaved by olefin cross-metathesis. Until now, this linker could not be applied to sugars containing azides. A detailed study of the cleavage reaction served as basis for the development of a new protocol using the [(H(2)Imes)(3-Br-py)(2)(Cl)(2)Ru=CHPh] catalyst and 1-pentene. Efficient release of azide-protected carbohydrates from solid support can be readily achieved.