Carbamate-Bearing Carbohydrates: Natural Occurrence, Pharmacological Relevance, and Chemical Synthesis

Carbamoylation is a relatively rare but relevant modification in natural carbohydrates, promoting structural diversity. Numerous families of natural glycosides, including aminocoumarins, glycopeptides, or macrolides, contain these carbamoylated carbohydrates. These natural products display a broad spectrum of pharmacological properties. In several cases, the carbamate-bearing carbohydrate contributes to these bioactivities. The synthesis of carbamate-bearing carbohydrates presents important challenges, and has been conventionally achieved through multistep sequences and the use of toxic and unstable reagents. Recent advances in catalytic site-selective carbamoylation enabled more efficient and safer syntheses of these unique carbohydrates. These advancements facilitate the study of carbamate-bearing carbohydrates, potentially accelerating the discovery of novel therapeutic agents.