Current Synthetic Approaches to the Synthesis of Carbasugars from Non-Carbohydrate Sources

Carbasugars are a group of carbohydrate derivatives in which the ring oxygen is replaced by a methylene group, producing a molecule with a nearly identical structure but highly different behavior. Over time, this definition has been extended to include other unsaturated cyclohexenols and carba-, di-, and polysaccharides. Such molecules can be found in bacterial strains and the human body, acting as neurotransmitters (e.g., inositol trisphosphate). In science, there are a wide range of research areas that are affected by, and involve, carbasugars, such as studies on enzyme inhibition, lectin-binding, and even HIV and cancer treatment. In this review article, different methods for synthesizing carbasugars, their derivatives, and similar cyclohexanes presenting comparable characteristics are summarized and evaluated, utilizing diverse starting materials and synthetic procedures.