An anomer is a type of geometric variation found at certain atoms in carbohydrate molecules. An epimer is a stereoisomer that differs in configuration at any single stereogenic center. An anomer is an epimer at the hemiacetal/hemiketal carbon in a cyclic saccharide, an atom called the anomeric carbon. The anomeric carbon is the carbon derived from the carbonyl carbon compound of the open-chain form of the carbohydrate molecule. Anomerization is the process of conversion of one anomer to the other. As is typical for stereoisomeric compounds, different anomers have different physical properties, melting points and specific rotations. The word "anomer" is derived from the Greek word ἄνω, meaning "up, above", and the Greek word μέρος, as in "isomer".
Nomenclature
Two anomers are designated alpha or beta, according to the configurational relationship between the anomeric centre and the anomeric reference atom, hence they are relative stereodescriptors. The anomeric centre in hemiacetals is the anomeric carbon C-1. In hemiketals it is the carbon derived from the carbonyl of the ketone. In aldohexoses the anomeric reference atom is the stereocenter that is farthest from anomeric carbon in the ring. For example, in α-D-glucopyranose the reference atom is C-5. If in the cyclic Fischer projection the exocyclic oxygen atom at the anomeric centre is cis to the exocyclic oxygen attached to the anomeric reference atom the anomer is α. If the two oxygens are trans the anomer is β. Thus, the absolute configurations of the anomeric carbon and the reference atom are the same in the α anomer and opposite in the β anomer.
Anomerization
Anomerization is the process of conversion of one anomer to the other. For reducing sugars, anomerization is referred to as mutarotation and occurs readily in solution and is catalyzed by acid and base. This reversible process typically leads to an anomeric mixture in which eventually an equilibrium is reached between the two single anomers. The ratio of the two anomers is specific for the regarding sugar. For example, regardless of the configuration of the starting D-glucose, a solution will gradually move towards being a mixture of approximately 64% β-D-glucopyranoside and 36% of α-D-glucopyranose. As the ratio changes, the optical rotation of the mixture changes; this phenomenon is called mutarotation.
Mechanism of anomerization
Though the cyclic forms of sugars are usually heavily favoured, hemiacetals in aqueous solution are in equilibrium with their open-chain forms. In aldohexoses this equilibrium is established as the hemiacetal bond between C-1 and C-5 oxygen is cleaved and reformed. When the hemiacetal group is reformed, the OH group on C-5 may attack either of the two stereochemically distinct sides of the aldehyde group on C-1. Which side it attacks on determines whether the α- or β-anomer is formed. Anomerization of glycosides typically occurs under acidic conditions. Typically, anomerization occurs through protonation of the exocyclic acetal oxygen, ionization to form an oxocarbenium ion with release of an alcohol, and nucleophilic attack by an alcohol on the reverse face of the oxocarbenium ion, followed by deprotonation.
Anomers are different in structure, and thus have different stabilizing and destabilizing effects from each other. The major contributors to the stability of a certain anomer are:
1,3-diaxial interactions, which usually destabilize the anomer that has the anomeric group in an axial orientation on the ring. This effect is especially noticeable in pyranoses and other six-membered ring compounds. This is a major factor in water.
Hydrogen bonds between the anomeric group and other groups on the ring, leading to stabilization of the anomer.
Dipolar repulsion between the anomeric group and other groups on the ring, leading to destabilization of the anomer.
For D-glucopyranoside, the β-anomer is the more stable anomer in water. For D-mannopyranose, the α-anomer is the more stable anomer. Because anomers are diastereomers of each other, they often differ in physical and chemical properties. One of the most important physical properties that is used to study anomers is the specific rotation, which can be monitored by polarimetry.
