Recent Advances in Organic Photocatalyst-Promoted Carbohydrate Synthesis and Modification under Light Irradiation

Chem Asian J. 2025 Jan 2:e202401114. doi: 10.1002/asia.202401114. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Photoredox catalysis has been developed as a sustainable and eco-friendly catalytic strategy, which might provide innovative solutions to solve the current synthetic challenges and barriers in carbohydrate chemistry. During the last few decades, the study of organic photocatalyst-promoted carbohydrate synthesis and modification has received significant attention, which provides an excellent and inexpensive metal-free alternative to photoredox catalysis as well as introduces a new fastest-growing era to access complex carbohydrates simply. In this review, we aim to provide an overview of organic photocatalyst-promoted carbohydrate synthesis and modification under light irradiation, which is expected to provide new directions for further investigation.

Keywords: Carbohydrate chemistry; Glycosylation; Organic Synthesis; Organic photocatalyst; Photoredox catalysis.