Abstract:

Rare sugars are defined as monosaccharides and their derivatives rarely exist in nature. They play an important role in the field of food, health and medicine. In this paper, bioactivities such as anticancer, scavenging free radical and neuroprotective function of several rare sugars are described. Meanwhile, three major synthesis strategies such as ring-closing metathesis, twostep synthesis and Izumoring synthesis, for rare sugars were also introduced. In addition, current research and application perspectives of rare sugars were also proposed.

Key words: rare sugar, bioactivity, synthesis