Cover Feature: Synthesis of Nonulosonic Acids (Eur. J. Org. Chem. 44/2020)

Abstract

The Cover Feature shows the iconic “Infinity Corridor” of the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. Metaphorically, it represents the ongoing efforts towards the synthesis of bacterial nonulosonic acids. The structurally complex nonulosonic acids are present at the termini of bacterial cell-surface glycoconjugates and thereby play key roles in pathogen-host interactions. In this review, we have summarized the biosynthetic, enzymatic or chemical approaches to access three types of nonulosonic acids viz. Legionaminic acid (Leg), Acinetaminic acid (Aci), and Fusaminic acid (Fus) from diverse starting materials. More information can be found in the Minireview by K. Pradhan and S. S. Kulkarni et al.