Metabolic inhibitors based on rare bacterial monosaccharide scaffolds interfere with bacterial glycan biosynthesis in a bacteria-selective manner.

Bacterial cell‐surface nonulosonic acids are unique in their structural complexity and their biological roles in life processes. Their presence at the non‐reducing end of bacterial cell surface glycans makes them key players in infections related to various multidrug‐resistant pathogens. These glycans are difficult to isolate from natural sources in pure form. Also, due to their complicated structures, access to these rare sugars through synthesis is highly challenging. The most well‐studied bacterial nonulosonic acid is pseudaminic acid which has been synthesized by many groups and reviewed very recently. In this minireview, we discuss the recent advances in the synthesis of remaining nonulosonic acids viz. legionaminic acid, acinetaminic acid, and fusaminic acid.

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