Synthesis of giant globular multivalent glycofullerenes as potent inhibitors in a model of Ebola virus infection

Tridecafullerenes with 120 peripheral carbohydrate groups have been made in one step from hexakis-adducts of [60]fullerene by using azide–alkyne click chemistry. This synthetic approach offers control over the size and multivalency of these ‘sugar superballs', which are shown to be potent inhibitors of cell infection by an artificial Ebola virus, with IC50 values in the sub-nanomolar range.