Chemoselective synthesis of sucrose building blocks and their polymerization

The increased appreciation of the role of carbohydrates in the biological sciences has resulted in a multidisciplinary interest in carbohydrate chemistry. The widespread use of these materials is due to both their availability as well as the need for green and renewable bio-based materials. Moreover, sugar-containing synthetic polymers are being increasingly investigated as biodegradable, biocompatible and biorenewable materials. Among the carbohydrates, sucrose, produced from renewable sources, is the most abundant sugar, but only a small percentage of its production is used as a chemical reagent. However, one major drawback for the direct use of sucrose for industrial processes is its polyfunctionality. Consequently, the control of chemoselectivity is a major challenge in the development of its potential applications. This article reviews the recent trends in the chemoselective synthesis of sucrose building blocks and the synthesis and characterization of synthetic sucrose-based polymeric materials.