Microwave-assisted conversion of carbohydrates. State of the art and outlook.

The valorisation of carbohydrates arising from the hydrolysis of renewable feedstocks (i.e. lignocellulosic biomass) is nowadays an area of outmost interest. In this context, the implementation of fast, expeditous and cost-effective methodologies for the modification of these naturally occurring compounds is becoming a prerequisite. In this sense, the application of microwaves has gained progressive attention in laboratories for making a range of high-added value sugars derivatives scaffolds. Its advantages are numerous and include enhacement of reaction rates and yields combined to improved regio-, chemo- and anomeric selectivities. Since the first publications of Gedye et Giguere in 1986, the use of microwave has progressively emerged as a popular non conventional heating source in the field of organic synthesis.1 Nevertheless, its application in the area of carbohydrate chemistry is less documented.2, 3 Although research in this field is still in its infancy, recourse to microwaves often provides, with remarkable yields and atom efficiency, new carbohydrate-based structures that are not easily available by any another means (or only via painstaking multi-step protocols). This communication proposes therefore selected, recent and non exhaustive illustrations of the application of microwaves to promote famous carbohydrates “model” reactions. The scale-up of such microwave-assisted reactions is also presented.TECHNOSE - Bioraffinerie végétale. Chimie et technologie des structures osidique