Strategies for the synthesis and screening of glycoconjugates. 1. A library of glycosylamines.

A simple one-step procedure is found to be highly effective for the "functionalization" of glycodiversity. This study encompasses 50 unprotected mono- and oligosaccharides, which are subjected to Kochetkov aminations in saturated aqueous ammonium carbonate. The reaction allows for the stereo- and regioselective introduction of an amino group into all oligosaccharides tested, as well as into a great variety of monosaccharides including charged species. The resulting unprotected glycosylamines are stable compounds, and the inherent amino group provides a convenient site for chemoselective conjugation and modification as described in the following paper in this issue.