Lipid ester moieties and sp2 hybridization

[doctor.octopus]

My question concerns the hybridization of glycerol carbons. In triglycerides, there are three esters linking the FA tails to the glycerol backbone.

I understand that a carbonyl carbon is sp2; however, are the adjacent carbons in glycerol also sp2?

Similarly, in a phosholipid, what are the hybridizations of the glycerol carbons?

Thanks!

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[To be MD]

My question concerns the hybridization of glycerol carbons. In triglycerides, there are three esters linking the FA tails to the glycerol backbone.

I understand that a carbonyl carbon is sp2; however, are the adjacent carbons in glycerol also sp2?

Similarly, in a phosholipid, what are the hybridizations of the glycerol carbons?

Thanks!

Hey DocOc,

For the first picture, every single carbon in an unkinked chain of the FA is sp3 hybridized, save for the carbonelle carbon. The only other sp2 carbons are the carbons of the bottom FA chain 9/10, 12/13, 15/16 and the carbon 9/10 of the middle chain. Notice: double bond = sp2.

The glycerol backbone carbons are also sp3.

In your second picture, because in this instance there are no double bonds, every non-carbonelle carbon is sp3.

 

[doctor.octopus]

Thanks!