Monosaccharides

Sorbitol, also known as glucitol, occurs widely in plants, such as, the fruits of the Sorbus and Crataegus spp.  Commercially it is produced by the catalytic hydrogenation of glucose (Collins, 2006).  Sorbitol is approved as a sugar substitute with the E number 420 and has ‘generally recognized as safe’ status (GRAS) from the US Food and Drug Administration. It is about 60% as sweet as sucrose and is a mild laxative.  Sorbitol has a wide range of other functional properties, including: humectancy, plasticizing ability, non-cariogenicity, and good chemical stability in harsh conditions, such as, alkaline pH and heat. Toothpaste production is the second largest application of sorbitol, accounting for 50,000 tons a year in Western Europe alone.  Other important uses of sorbitol as a humectant, include: formulation of cough syrups, multivitamin preparations, emulsions, and suspensions (O’Neil, 2013).

Potent and specific inhibitor of α-mannosidase I. It is active against the Golgi isoform (GMI) of the enzyme and blocks carbohydrate branch elongation from immature to complex and hybrid N-glycans. Its anti-viral activity against HIV-1 is characterized by the alteration of N-glycan pattern and shift to high-mannose glycans on viral glycoprotein gp120, resulting in decreased infectivity of newly synthesized virions.

2,3,4-Tri-O-benzyl-L-rhamnopyranose is a chemical compound that belongs to the family of carbohydrates known as rhamnopyranoses. It is a derivative of L-rhamnose, which is a naturally occurring aldohexose sugar. The compound is often used as a glycosyl donor in the synthesis of oligosaccharides and glycoconjugates. The three benzyl groups in the molecule provide protection for the hydroxyl groups, allowing for selective deprotection and glycosylation. 2,3,4-Tri-O-benzyl-L-rhamnopyranose is also used as a precursor in the synthesis of various natural products.

2,3,5-Tri-O-benzyl-b-D-ribofuranose is a synthetic monosaccharide that is used in the synthesis of complex carbohydrates such as glycosylation and polysaccharides. One use for this chemical is to modify the sugar moiety with methyl groups, yielding 2,3,5-tri-O-methyl b-D-ribofuranose. This modification helps prevent the sugar from being metabolized by enzymes in the body. The chemical can also be fluorinated to yield 2,3,5-trifluoro b-D-ribofuranose.

Phenyl-beta-D-thioglucuronic acid is a drug that is used to treat inflammatory diseases and autoimmune diseases. It is a basic structure that has been shown to have anti-estrogenic effects in vitro, although the mechanism of action is not well understood. Phenyl-beta-D-thioglucuronic acid can be crosslinked with proteins to form a matrix for wound healing. This drug has also been shown to be a potent inhibitor of proteases, and may inhibit other enzymes such as matrix metalloproteinases and serine proteases.

Building block for polymers synthesis, ionic liquids and chiral auxiliaries