Principles of modern solid-phase oligosaccharide synthesis.

The past few decades have seen a renewed interest in the chemical synthesis of oligosaccharides, owing to increased recognition of their biological importance. Of the different approaches to oligosaccharides, solid-phase synthesis has emerged as a particularly attractive option, due in large part to its potential for automation. This perspective describes principles to consider when planning solid-phase oligosaccharide synthesis (SPOS), including recent achievements and areas where future work is necessary.