Strategies toward protecting group-free glycosylation through selective activation of the anomeric center A. Michael Downey1 and Michal Hocek*1,2 Review Open Access Address: Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2017, 13, 1239–1279. 1Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of doi:10.3762/bjoc.13.123 Sciences, Flemingovo nam. 2, 16610 Prague 6, Czech Republic and 2Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles Received: 08 March 2017 University in Prague, 12843 Prague 2, Czech Republic Accepted: 01 June 2017 Published: 27 June 2017 Email: Michal Hocek* -
[email protected] Associate Editor: S. Flitsch * Corresponding author © 2017 Downey and Hocek; licensee Beilstein-Institut. License and terms: see end of document. Keywords: glycosides; glycosylation; oligosaccharides; protecting groups Abstract Glycosylation is an immensely important biological process and one that is highly controlled and very efficient in nature. However, in a chemical laboratory the process is much more challenging and usually requires the extensive use of protecting groups to squelch reactivity at undesired reactive moieties. Nonetheless, by taking advantage of the differential reactivity of the anomeric center, a selective activation at this position is possible. As a result, protecting group-free strategies to effect glycosylations are available thanks to the tremendous efforts of many research groups. In this review, we showcase the methods available for the selective activation of the anomeric center on the glycosyl donor and the mechanisms by which the glycosylation reactions take place to illustrate the power these techniques. Review 1 Introduction The glycosylation reaction is of extreme importance in nature as termed the acceptor, with the product of the reaction termed it is possibly the most prevalent post-translational modification glycoside.