Biosynthesis

The pharmaceutical industry is currently experiencing increasing demand for small-molecule drugs. However, a significant portion of the raw materials used in drug production are fossil-based, originating from crude oil. This reliance on non-renewable resources presents major challenges, particularly in the context of global environmental crises such as climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, and dwindling oil reserves.

Carbohydrate mimetics play vital roles in various cell-mediated processes due to their structural resemblance to natural sugars, yet they exhibit distinct properties. Thioglycosides, in which an exocyclic oxygen atom is replaced by sulfur, are recognized as key building blocks in the preparation of glycans and the development of novel monosaccharides. These compounds serve as valuable intermediates in carbohydrate chemistry, being widely utilized in sequential glycosylation strategies for oligosaccharide synthesis.