Automated Synthesis of Biopolymers

While no examples of automated solid-phase oligosaccharide synthesis had been reported until the work described here,2 automated oligosaccharide synthesis was predated by efficient methods for the synthesis of peptides3 and nucleic acids.4 Here we briefly discuss the general features of each method, with particular emphasis on the scale and efficiency of peptide and nucleic acid synthesis. 

A method capable of generating sequences 10-15 sugar units in length would be of interest with regard to carbohydrate synthesis. While coupling yields similar to those obtained in nucleic acid synthesis would be ideal, 

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