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Abstract

Of the three most important classes of biomolecules: oligopeptides (proteins), oligonucleotides, and oligosaccharides, the last remains the most difficult to synthesize in an automated fashion due to the presence of many stereocenters and bond connections possible among a large pool of monosaccharide monomers. For these reasons, it was not until the early 21st century, nearly 50years after automated oligopeptide synthesis was first available, that a preliminary method presented to automate the synthesis of carbohydrates.1.The Past: We will discuss a brief history of automated biomolecule assembly methods available that served as inspiration for automated glycan assembly (AGA) as well as early solid-phase oligosaccharide synthesis, leading up to automation of the processes. We will also discuss a progression in the glycans available up to 2001.2.The Present: Leading up to where we are right now (2001 to today) and some key syntheses and applications especially from the last years. We will compare automated glycan assembly, programmable one-pot synthesis, chemo-enzymatic synthesis, as well as fluorous- and HPLC-assisted methods aiming at partial automation of the assembly process.3.The Future: We will address shortcomings of the prevailing methods and postulate potential improvements to better access biologically-relevant and otherwise interesting oligosaccharides to advance the glycosciences.