Source data for "A glycan foldamer that uses carbohydrate-aromatic interactions to perform catalysis"

Inspired by these systems, peptide-based catalysts have been designed to accelerate chemical reactions and/or ensure regio- and stereoselective transformations. We wondered whether other biomolecules (such as glycans) could be designed to perform catalytic functions, expanding the portfolio of synthetic functional oligomers.

Here we report a glycan foldamer inspired by the natural Sialyl Lewis X antigen that acts as catalyst in a chemical reaction. This glycan-based catalyst benefits from structural rigidity and modular adaptability, incorporating a substrate-recognition motif alongside a catalytic active site. Leveraging the inherent ability of carbohydrates to engage in CH–π interactions with aromatic substrates, we demonstrate the recruitment and functionalization of a tryptophan via a Pictet–Spengler transformation.