Methods for site-selective transformations
of hydroxyl groups in
carbohydrate derivatives are reviewed. The construction of oligosaccharides
of defined connectivity hinges on such transformations, which are
also needed for the preparation of modified or non-natural sugar derivatives,
the installation of naturally occurring postglycosylation modifications,
the selective labeling or conjugation of carbohydrate derivatives,
and the preparation of therapeutic agents or research tools for glycobiology.
The review begins with a discussion of intrinsic factors and processes
that can influence selectivity in reactions of unprotected or partially
protected carbohydrate derivatives, followed by a description of transformations
that engage two OH groups in cyclic adducts (acetals, ketals, boronic
esters, and related species). An overview of the various classes of
site-selective transformations of OH groups in sugars is then provided:
the reactions discussed include esterification, thiocarbonylation,
alkylation, glycosylation, arylation, silylation, phosphorylation,
sulfonylation, sulfation, and oxidation. Emphasis is placed on recently
developed methods that employ reagent or catalyst control to achieve
otherwise challenging transformations or site-selectivities.