Dissertation

Thiosugars: reactivity, methodology and applications

Carbohydrates, alongside proteins and nucleic acids, constitute a crucial and versatile family of biomolecules present in all life forms. They manifest as monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides, covalently bonded to proteins and fats. Carbohydrates are integral to plant and arthropod cell walls and traditionally viewed as the primary source and storage of energy, but also play a vital role in many fundamental biological processes.

Author: J.M. Madern
Date: 18 January 2024
Links: Thesis in Leiden Repository

To study the structure and biological activity of specific carbohydrates, it is essential to synthesize them in a pure and well-defined form, as current natural extraction techniques are often limiting.The work of this thesis is focused on a specific type of glycomimetics: thiosugars, i.e. sugar analogues which have their endocylic oxygen replaced by a sulfur atom. These analogues are of interest because of their unique stability and stereoelectronic effects, which closely mimick their natural O-counterparts. The glycosidic linkage of thioglycosides (i.e. 4-S-furanosides and 5-S-pyranosides) shows improved resistance towards chemical and enzymatic hydrolysis.