Disaccharides: Difference between revisions

The chemical name of <scene name='Disaccharides/Sucrose/2'>sucrose</scene> is α-D-glucopyranosyl (1→2) β-D-fructofuranoside (<scene name='Disaccharides/Sucrose/2'>Reset initial scene</scene>). The chemical name indicates that the anomeric carbon (orange) of glucose has the α configuration and the anomeric carbon of fructose (green) has the β configuration. The α configuration of glucose can easily be seen in the structure of glucose, but the β of fructose is more difficult because the structure of fructose has been flipped 180° so the glycosidic bond can be formed with C-2. The anomeric carbon of fructose is on the left side of the fructose unit rather than the right side. <scene name='Disaccharides/Sucrose2/1'>Rotate the structure</scene>, in order to see the β configuration of fructose in its normal position. The anomeric carbons of both monomeric units are involved in the glycosidic bond, C-1 (orange) of glucose and C-2 (green) of fructose. There are two important consequences of the (1→2) glycosidic bond. 1) Both monomeric units are glycosides, and therefore the chemical name has the ending of -oside instead of -ose like the above disaccharides. 2) There are no aldehyde or ketone groups present in an aqueous solution of the sugar, so sucrose is a non-reducing sugar.