Abstract Condensation of 2-cyano-6-hydroxybenzothiazole with acetohalogeno derivatives of d-glucose, d-galactose, and 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-d-glucose gave the corresponding β- glycosides. Attempted basic deacetylation caused methanolysis of the nitrile group. Condensation of the first two acetylated glycosides with d-cysteine, followed by deacetylation, gave the firefly luciferin β-glycosides that were substrates for the ...
