Mimicking the transition state of reactions of glycoside hydrolases: Updating the conformational space of the oxocarbenium cation

One strategy for developing glycoside hydrolase (GH) inhibitors is to mimic the conformation of the transition state (TS) along the hydrolysis reaction coordinate. We present a DFT-based model to understand the conformational space of the oxocarbenium cation as a TS in carbohydrate chemistry. Using Bolzano’s theorem, we have demonstrated the existence of a function that divides the puckering coordinate space. These results are compared with the available experimental crystal structures of GH-inhibitor complexes, and a contradictory case (GH92) was computationally studied. Our mathematical model opens a door to design more specific inhibitors and to decipher the catalytic pathways of controversial cases.