寡糖以及其它糖类化合物具有很大潜力用于治疗心脏病及炎症等人类的疾病。生物学家和药物研究者极想研究清楚这类化合物能治病的机理。但是由于糖类化合物结构复杂以及众多的立体选择中心，仅用有机合成的方法制备它们是非常困难和不实际。然而，如果将有机合成技术与酶的能力 Oligosaccharides and other carbohydrates have great potential for treating human diseases such as heart disease and inflammation. Biologists and drug researchers are keen to study the mechanisms by which these compounds can cure them. However, due to the complex structure of carbohydrates and the large number of stereocenters, it is very difficult and impractical to make them using only organic synthetic methods. However, if the organic synthesis technology with enzyme ability