Direct and efficient preparation of pentyl and octyl b-D-xylosides and oligoxylosides has been achieved from xylans and n-pentanol or n-octanol in aqueous medium with xylanases. The method has been successfully applied with xylooligosaccharides produced from hydrothermally pretreated wheat bran to produce octyl oligoxylosides. The pentose-based surfactants thus obtained exhibit good surface properties compared to other alkyl glycosides. These molecules represent interesting candidates for the production of new green surfactants.

In recent years, β-xylopyranosides have attracted interest due to the development of biomass-derived molecules. This review focuses on general routes for the preparation of β-xylopyranosides by chemical and enzymatic pathways and their main uses.