Electrochemical Activation of Glycosyl Donors

Electrochemical methods are powerful means to activate glycosyl donors including aryl glycosides and halo glycosides with variety of redox potentials. Anodic oxidation of aryl- and chalcogeno glycosides enables facile generation of glycosyl cations and their equivalents. Conversely, cathodic reduction of glycosyl bromides is a useful means to generate glycosyl radicals. Both chemical species are important to prepare variety of derivatives of monosaccharides and oligosaccharides.