This brief presents a valuable and concise overview of organocatalytic methodologies in carbohydrate chemistry. It includes glycosylation processes with de novo syntheses of carbohydrates and chain elongation of carbohydrates. The author, an academic of international distinction, goes on to make comparisons between traditional organic and metalorganic transformations.

Introduction.- Total synthesis of carbohydrates.- Organocatalyzed cascade reactions in carbohydrate chemistry.- Glycosylation reactions of carbohydrates.