A novel total synthesis of fully protected idraparinux has been achieved. A short and efficient protocol for the synthesis of the EF fragment of idraparinux and its C5'-epi analogue (GH unit) has been developed. The same cellobiose unit was transformed in 14 steps into the fully protected EF and GH disaccharide fragments. The key step of this approach is an epimerization of C5 by an elimination-addition sequence leading to l-ido disaccharide (GH unit) with a total yield of 24% (36% for the EF fragment). 1,6-Anhydro ring opening gave suitable substrates for efficient synthesis of fully protected idraparinux. The fully protected antithrombotic pentasaccharide idraparinux was synthesized in 23 steps for the longest linear route, with a 1.7% overall yield from d-cellobiose and d-glucose.

Extensive study of the diastereoselective synthesis of l-pyranosides utilizing hydroboration of substituted exo-glucals (5-enopyranosides) obtained from d-sugars is presented. On the basis of this study we present the empirical rules describing the reaction stereoselectivity and the correlation between the yield of the l-ido product and the size of protecting groups used. Application of these guidelines revealed that the hydroboration of methyl 2,3-O-methyl-6-deoxy-α-d-xylo-hex-5-enopyranoside resulted in exclusive formation of l-ido product with high yield. This method can be successfully applied to the synthesis of l-iduronic acid being an essential component of anticoagulant drugs with diastereoselectivity superior to previously published protocols.

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