Fascinating and intriguing biomolecules: The chemistry of boron complexes with carbohydrates, glycolipids, and steroids

Abstract The unique chemical properties of boron have long captivated researchers, particularly the ability of this element to form stable heterocyclic spiroborates with five and six members. Among these compounds, homoleptic tetracoordinate boron species, in which boron is bound to four oxygen atoms, stand out for their versatility and significance across various fields. In recent decades, these complexes have exhibited remarkable pharmacological properties and selective biological activity, establishing them as a cornerstone in modern boron chemistry. The reactions of boric acid and its oxoanions with 1,2‐ and 1,3‐diol groups have been known for more than a century, serving as the basis for analytical techniques and adsorption processes. Building upon this foundation, interactions between boric acid and carbohydrates, glycolipids, and steroids are opening up new avenues in lipid chemistry. The resulting boron compounds, known as boronolipids, remain a largely uncharted territory in terms of their biological properties, holding the promise of groundbreaking discoveries in this rapidly evolving field. The well‐known theory of the origin of life, the RNA world hypothesis, suggests that RNA arose before DNA and proteins. This is explained by the fact that RNA has the ability to self‐replicate and store information. Unlike DNA, RNA contains D‐ribose, a type of sugar that can form boron‐containing glycolipids, similar to those that may have formed in the pre‐biotic era. These glycolipids could have played a crucial role in the formation of the first protocells and biomembranes. Thus, at present, it can be stated quite unequivocally that boronolipids actually exist in nature and represent several lipid classes, such as: boronosaccharides , boronoglycolipids , boronosteroids , boronotriterpenoids , boronophospholipids , and their analogs and derivatives.