Polysaccharides: The “Click” Chemistry Impact

Abstract

Polysaccharides are complex but essential compounds utilized in many areas such as biomaterials, drug delivery, cosmetics, food chemistry or renewable energy. Modifications and functionalizations of such polymers are often necessary to achieve molecular structures of interest. In this area, the emergence of the “click” chemistry concept, and particularly the copper-catalyzed version of the Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction between terminal acetylenes and azides, had an impact on the polysaccharides chemistry. The present review summarizes the contribution of “click” chemistry in the world of polysaccharides.