Enzymatic synthesis of carbohydrates

Recent developments in the enzymatic synthesis of carbohydrates can be classified into four approaches 1) asymmetric C-C bond formation catalyzed by aldolases (1-10 2) enzymatic synthesis of carbohydrate synthons (loll) 3) asymmetric glycosidic formation catalyzed by glycosidases (12.-17) and glycosyl transferases (18-23.) and 4) regioselective transformations of sugars and derivatives (24-25). These enzymatic transformations are stereoselective and carried out under mild conditions with minimum protection of functional groups. They hold promise in preparative carbohydrate synthesis. In connection with this book, we focus on the first two approaches. 

Chi-Huey Wong (USA) Enzymatic and chemo-enzymatic synthesis of carbohydrates... 

Furan compounds as precursors of chiral synthons in enzymatic synthesis of carbohydrates 91S509. 

This article reviews the main applications of glycosidases and lipases in the synthesis of glycosidic bonds and in acylation/deacylation reactions of carbohydrates, respectively. Special attention is given to the factors that can affect the selectivity of the reactions, such as the enzyme origin, the structure of the substrates, and the reaction medium. A number of reviews have appeared in the literature on enzymatic synthesis of carbohydrates that include reactions with glycosidases and/or lipases [ 1 - 6]. In this article only a selection of examples are given to illustrate the discussion, rather than an extensive compilation of the work published in the area. 

C.Augc and C. Oauthcron-Lc Narvor, Enzymatic synthesis of carbohydrates, in Preparative Carbohydrate Chemistry. S. Hancssian (Ed.), Marcel Dcfcker. Dordrecht, 1997, 469-484. 

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