Polymer-supported oligosaccharide synthesis by a loading–release–reloading strategy

A new synthetic strategy for solid-supported oligosaccharide synthesis has been developed whereby a synthetic intermediate can be released from the solid support, purified and reloaded for further synthesis. Key to the success of this approach is the polymeric support polystyrylboronic acid, which allows saccharides to be loaded by heating in pyridine and released by treatment with a mixture of acetone and water.