Carbohydrates modem carbohydrate chemistry

T he last five years have witnessed a reawakening interest in modem carbohydrate chemistry, a feature which is reflected in the number of symposia held by the Division of Carbohydrate Chemistry during national meetings of the American Chemical Society. The scheduling of a symposium on Deoxy Sugars for the fall meeting of 1966 seemed very opportune if not somewhat overdue. 

Binkley RW Modem Carbohydrate Chemistry. Marcel Dekker, 1988. 

R. R. BinHey, Modem Carbohydrate Chemistry, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, 1988. 

The foregtung themes and the specific diapt represent some of the most pre-paratively useful methods in modem carbohydrate chemistry. Altiiough covoage is restricted to a selection of topics, the most important aspects of preparative carbohydrate diemistry have been dealt with in an expert mannot. As a consequence, it is my hope that tins volume will have lasting value. 

The Lobiy de Bruyn-Alberda van Ekenstein transfonnation has now been known for some 60 years. Thus, its reactions are among the oldest discovered during the period of modem carbohydrate chemistry. These reactions are very simple and have usually been imagined as proceeding via enolization. However, here, enolization leads to the unique possibility of the enediol intermediate, and the patent simplicity of this pathway has been matched by an elusiveness of mechanism which has intrigued three generations of carbohydrate chemists. These are also remarkable reactions if for no other reason than their apparent indispensability for life. 

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