The societal importance of sucralose (a trichlorinated disaccharide) doesn't fade over time. This review focuses on the synthesis and applications of polyhalogenated carbohydrates incorporating fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine atoms. An overview of the current state of the art of sugar inter-halides is also presented.

Abstract

Polyfluorinated carbohydrates have attracted attention in the last decades. This is due to the interesting properties of such organofluorines. What about the other halogens? Since the discovery of sucralose (a trichlorinated disaccharide) more than 50 years ago, only a handful of chlorinated, brominated, or iodinated carbohydrates have been reported. This review focuses on the synthesis of polyhalogenated carbohydrates, including sugar inter-halides, but excluding polyfluorinated sugars. An overview of the current state of the art of their potential application is also described.