Mutarotation vs. Epimerization

[Schnitzels]

On one of the Top Score practice tests it asks what that name of the reaction is when a-D-glucose becomes a mixture of B-D-Glucose in water.

Now... I know that mutarotation is the answer they want, but isn't epimerization true too? An epimer is defined as one of two molecules that differ only in the spatial arrangement around a single carbon atom. This is true of a-D-glucose and B-D-glucose. Isn't mutarotation a specific type of epimerization?

Can anyone help to clarify? 😳

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[Anemone]

On one of the Top Score practice tests it asks what that name of the reaction is when a-D-glucose becomes a mixture of B-D-Glucose in water.

Now... I know that mutarotation is the answer they want, but isn't epimerization true too? An epimer is defined as one of two molecules that differ only in the spatial arrangement around a single carbon atom. This is true of a-D-glucose and B-D-glucose. Isn't mutarotation a specific type of epimerization?

Can anyone help to clarify? 😳

mutarotation refers to the production of an equilib. mixture of 2 anomers from one pure anomer. (of a hemiacetal carb). it also is used when talking about the conversion between alpha and beta anomers.

 

[Schnitzels]

So, mutarotation is a type of epimerization?

 

[TimeforDAT]

So, mutarotation is a type of epimerization?

maybe mutarotation is used when referring to sugars

 

[CSU Undergrad]

I was wondering the same thing, because I thought epimerization is interconversion of alpha and beta as well

 

[rose786]

The very definition of mutarotation is the change in optical activity accompanying epimerization (interconversion between alpha and beta anomers).

Mutarotation occurs with aldohexoses (reducing sugars), whereas epimerization doesn't necessarily only occur with sugars.

That's the way I understand it at least.

 

[TheWiredNerv]

I hate sugar chemistry. Sugar chemists are in a world of their own with naming compounds.