Developments in the Chemical Synthesis of Heparin and Heparan Sulfate

Heparin and heparan sulfate represent key members of the glycosaminoglycan family of carbohydrates and underpin considerable repertoires of biological importance. As such, their efficiency of synthesis represents a key requirement, to further understand and exploit the H/HS structure-to-biological function axis. In this review we focus on chemical approaches to and methodology improvements for the synthesis of these essential sugars (from 2015 onwards). We first consider advances in accessing the heparin-derived pentasaccharide anticoagulant fondaparinux. This is followed by heparan sulfate targets, including key building block synthesis, oligosaccharide construction and chemical sulfation techniques. We end with a consideration of technological improvements to traditional, solution-phase synthesis approaches that are increasingly being utilised.

Automated summary

This review focuses on the chemical approaches and methodology improvements for the synthesis of heparin and heparan sulfate since 2015, including advances in accessing the pentasaccharide anticoagulant and targets for heparan sulfate synthesis. It also discusses key building block synthesis, oligosaccharide construction, chemical sulfation techniques, and technological improvements to traditional solution-phase synthesis approaches.