Oligosaccharide synthesis and library assembly by one-pot sequential glycosylation strategy

The oligosaccharide residue in glycoconjugates located in cell membranes is responsible for intercellular recognition and interaction: it acts as a receptor for proteins, hormones, and microorganisms and governs immune reactions. These significant activities have stimulated great interest in the field of oligosaccharides and glycoconjugates. Although many advances have been made in the synthesis of oligosaccharides, more convenient and efficient methods are still needed. This review describes one of these new methods-the one-pot sequential glycosylation approach as a potent tool for oligosaccharide assembly. The oligosaccharide library construction in a one-pot fashion is also summarized.