Synthesis of Polysaccharides I: Hydrolase as Catalyst

The glycoside hydrolase-catalyzed polycondensation of activated glycosyl monomers such as glycosyl fluorides and polyaddition of sugar-oxazoline monomers have been reviewed. Various kinds of oligo- and polysaccharides including natural cellulose, xylan, chitin, hyaluronic acid, and specifically modified functional polysaccharides have successfully been prepared by this methodology. Based on the formation of metastable cellulose I by the enzymatic polymerization of β-cellobiosyl fluoride monomer catalyzed by cellulase, a new concept of “choroselective polymerization” for the control in high-order molecular assembly during polymerization was proposed.