Carbohydrates Containing Sulfur

Thioglycosides with sulfur as the glycosidic bridge are naturally occurring. They have been examined chemically and also biochemically wherein they aid in establishment of enzyme activity. Sugars and sugar nucleoside derivatives with sulfur—and sometimes selenium and nitrogen—replacing the ring oxygen show interesting chemistry and are of great potential usefulness in medicine as indicated by initial biochemical investigations. Their value in biochemistry as analogs of natural structures is proving of useful interest. Carbohydrates with sulfur at positions other than at the anomeric carbon or with ring involvement have interesting chemical properties. This review presents a general survey of carbohydrates containing sulfur, of their special methods of synthesis, their special chemical properties and reactions and a very brief review of their biochemistry and potential clinical value.