Carbohydrates offer a ready source of enantiomerically pure
starting materials. They have been used for the imaginative
synthesis of a wide range of compounds, and have been found to be
effective chiral auxiliaries which enable the introduction of a
range of functionalities in a highly enantioselective manner.

In a subject dominated by volumes at research and professional
level, this book provides a broad understanding of the use of
carbohydrates in organic synthesis, at postgraduate student level.
Emphasis is placed on retrosynthetic analysis, with discussion of
why a particular synthetic route has been chosen, and mechanistic
explanations are provided for key and novel reactions. Wherever
possible, the authors highlight points of general significance to
organic synthesis. Selected experimental conditions and reaction
details are incorporated to ensure that information can be utilised
in research.

The book is extensively referenced and so provides a convenient
point of entry to the primary literature.