A
glycosyl acceptor is any suitable
nucleophile-containing molecule that will react with a
glycosyl donor to form a new
glycosidic bond. By convention, the acceptor is the member of this pair which did not contain the resulting
anomeric carbon of the new glycosidic bond. Since the nucleophilic atom of the acceptor is typically an oxygen atom, this can be remembered using the mnemonic of
the acceptor is the alcohol. A glycosyl acceptor can be a mono- or oligosaccharide that contains an available nucleophile, such as an unprotected hydroxyl.