D and L carbs are enantiomers?

[JP2740]

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I thought they were just epimers (berkeley says enantiomers).

 

[loveoforganic]

While L and D refer just to that single chirality center, L glucose would be the reverse of every chirality center of D glucose. When you combine the name of the sugar with L, you're reversing all chirality centers. It's just nomenclature.

 

[JSU]

I thought they were just epimers (berkeley says enantiomers).

No, an epimer would result is you only changed the chirality on the carbon that dictates D vs. L. However, if that were the only change you made, the molecule wouldnt be glucose anymore (L-Iodose?).

 

[Rayhaan]

No, epimers are just diasteromers for 1 carbon. Enantiomers are everything changes, so D and L versions of a sugar are enantiomers.