Anomers
Anomers
Anomers (/əˈnɒmərz/) are a type of isomer found in carbohydrate chemistry. They are diastereomers that differ in configuration at the anomeric carbon. This term was first introduced by the British chemist, Edmund Hirst in 1951.
Etymology
The term "anomer" is derived from the Greek words 'ano' meaning 'up' or 'above' and 'meros' meaning 'part'. This refers to the spatial arrangement of the anomeric carbon atom in relation to the rest of the molecule.
Definition
Anomers are stereoisomers, a type of isomer where the same atoms can be connected in the same order but still have a different spatial arrangement. In the case of anomers, they differ at the anomeric carbon. The anomeric carbon is the carbon derived from the carbonyl carbon of the open-chain form of the carbohydrate molecule.
Types of Anomers
There are two types of anomers, alpha (α) and beta (β). The α-anomer is the isomer where the substituent at the anomeric carbon is on the opposite side (trans) of the ring as the CH2OH moiety. The β-anomer is the isomer where the substituent at the anomeric carbon is on the same side (cis) of the ring as the CH2OH moiety.
Related Terms
- Epimer: An epimer is a type of diastereomer where the molecules differ in configuration at only one stereogenic center.
- Monosaccharide: Monosaccharides are the simplest form of carbohydrates and cannot be hydrolyzed to smaller carbohydrates. They are the building blocks of disaccharides and polysaccharides.
- Hemiacetal: Hemiacetals are functional groups that are formed by the addition of an alcohol to an aldehyde or a ketone.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Anomers
- Wikipedia's article - Anomers
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