Is it possible for a sugar to have to anomeric carbons?

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

lhenslee

Full Member
10+ Year Member
15+ Year Member
Joined
Jul 22, 2008
Messages
14
Reaction score
0
Is it possible for a sugar to have 2 anomeric carbons?
And if so, how does this affect the alpha (OH axial) and beta (OH equatorial) nomenclature?

Members don't see this ad.
 
Last edited:
What sugars? A disccharide has two anomeric carbons, each for each of the component monosaccharides.

If you are talking about Carbon 2 as an anomeric carbon, it is possible. In fact, in all the ketoses, as fructose, when in cyclic structure, the anomeric carbon is the carbon 2. The conventions for alpha and Beta are the same as if the anomeric carbon was carbon 1.

Sucrose (table sugar) is formed by an alpha D-glucose and a B-D- fructose. The linkage between them is alpha1, Beta2- O-glycosidic, because it is between the anomeric carbon of glucose (C1) and the anomeric carbon of fructose (C2)

My blog www.biochemistryquestions.wordpress.com
 
Every CLOSE-CHAINED monosaccharide has an anomeric carbon. Linkages usually occur at the anomeric carbon, and therefore these linkages (analogous to peptide bonds) can be alpha or beta.

A single monosaccharide cannot perform an intramolecular ring forming reaction twice, so no single monomer of a sugar will have multiple anomeric carbons (at least, not anything from triose to heptose, which is all MCAT cares about).

To reall understand the anomeric carbon, familiarize yourself with the Benedict's (Reducing Sugar) test.
 
Top