Homoglycosides

Homoglycosides are a class of organic compounds that are structurally related to glycosides but possess a distinct characteristic. In a typical glycoside, a sugar molecule (glycone) is linked to a non-sugar molecule (aglycone) via a glycosidic bond. Homoglycosides, however, consist of two or more sugar units linked together, where the aglycone is also a sugar. This means the compound is essentially a simple oligosaccharide or polysaccharide where the terminal sugar is linked to another sugar unit in a way analogous to a glycosidic bond.

The term "homoglycoside" is used to differentiate these structures from typical heteroglycosides, where the aglycone is a non-carbohydrate moiety. The linkage in homoglycosides can be of various types, similar to those found in oligosaccharides and polysaccharides, such as alpha or beta linkages and varying positional isomers (e.g., 1→4, 1→6). These compounds play roles in various biological processes and can be found in natural sources. Examples include certain storage polysaccharides or components of bacterial cell walls. Their study is important for understanding carbohydrate chemistry and biochemistry.