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25.3: D, L Sugars

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    Glyceraldehyde, the simplest aldose, has only one chirality center and thus has two enantiomeric (nonidentical mirror-image) forms. Only the dextrorotatory enantiomer occurs naturally, however. That is, a sample of naturally occurring glyceraldehyde placed in a polarimeter rotates plane-polarized light in a clockwise direction, denoted (+). Since (+)-glyceraldehyde has been found to have an R configuration at C2, it can be represented by a Fischer projection as shown previously in Figure 25.2. For historical reasons dating back long before the adoption of the R,S system, (R)-(+)-glyceraldehyde is also referred to as D-glyceraldehyde (D for dextrorotatory). The other enantiomer, (S)-(–)-glyceraldehyde, is known as L-glyceraldehyde (L for levorotatory).

    Because of the way that monosaccharides are biosynthesized in nature, glucose, fructose, and most other naturally occurring monosaccharides all have the same R stereochemical configuration as D-glyceraldehyde at the chirality center farthest from the carbonyl group. In Fischer projections, therefore, most naturally occurring sugars have the hydroxyl group at the bottom chirality center pointing to the right (Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\)). Such compounds are referred to as D sugars.

    The structures of D-glyceraldehyde, D-ribose, D-glucose, and D-fructose. C H O is positioned on top of the first three structures. C H 2 O H is on top of D-fructose.
    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Some naturally occurring sugars. The –OH group at the chirality center farthest from the carbonyl group has the same configuration as (R)-(+)-glyceraldehyde and points toward the right in Fischer projections.

    In contrast with D sugars, L sugars have an S configuration at the lowest chirality center, with the bottom –OH group pointing to the left in Fischer projections. Thus, an L sugar is the mirror image (enantiomer) of the corresponding D sugar and has the opposite configuration from the D sugar at all chirality centers.

    The structure of L-glyceraldehyde or (S)-(-)-glyceraldehyde. A mirror is placed after the structure of L-glucose. D-glucose is the mirror image of L-glucose (not naturally occurring).

    Note that the D and L notations have no relation to the direction in which a given sugar rotates plane-polarized light. A D sugar can be either dextrorotatory or levorotatory. The prefix D indicates only that the –OH group at the lowest chirality center has R stereochemistry and points to the right when the molecule is drawn in a standard Fischer projection. Note also that the D,L system of carbohydrate nomenclature describes the configuration at only one chirality center and says nothing about the configuration of other chirality centers that may be present.

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{1}\)

    Assign R or S configuration to each chirality center in the following monosaccharides, and tell whether each is a D sugar or an L sugar:

    1. The structure of L-erythrose which is a tetrose saccharide part of the aldose family.
    2. The structure of D-xylose which is a monosaccharide containing five carbon atoms and an aldehyde functional group.
    3. The structure of D-xylulose which is a ketopentose containing five carbon atoms ad a ketone functional group.
    Answer
    1. L-Erythrose; 2S,3S
    2. D-Xylose; 2R,3S,4R
    3. D-Xylulose; 3S,4R
    Exercise \(\PageIndex{2}\)

    (+)-Arabinose, an aldopentose that is widely distributed in plants, is systematically named (2R,3S,4S)-2,3,4,5-tetrahydroxypentanal. Draw a Fischer projection of (+)-arabinose, and identify it as a D sugar or an L sugar.

    Answer

    The structure of L-arabinose which is an aldopentose containing five carbon atoms and including an aldehyde functional group.


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