Glucose and Its Anomers

Outline1. Beta Anomer  2. Axial Groups  3. Equatorial Groups4. Alpha Anomer  5. Thermal Animation

Thermal Animation

The anomeric carbon is now shown in magenta.

One should realize that glucose is not a static molecule. Thermal motions include vibrations leading to random fluctuations in bond angles and distances. JSmol can show computer simulations of this thermal motion.

animation on and off.

between spacefill and ball-and-stick models. Notice the frequent collisions between the axial anomeric hydroxyl group and the axial hydrogens. Now you know why the β anomer is more stable than the α anomer.