β Anomer

Definition

A β anomer is a type of stereoisomer found in cyclic carbohydrates, distinguished by the position of the substituent at the anomeric carbon being above the plane of the ring. In glucose, for instance, when the hydroxyl group (OH) attached to the anomeric carbon is on the same side as the CH2OH moiety, it's called a β anomer.

Related terms

Anomeric Carbon:

The carbon atom in cyclic sugars that becomes a stereogenic center due to ring closure, leading to two possible configurations (α or β).

Monosaccharides:

Simple sugars that cannot be hydrolyzed into smaller carbohydrate units, often forming cyclic structures with anomers.

Hemiacetal Formation: The reaction between an aldehyde and an alcohol under acidic conditions to form a hemiacetal, which is pivotal in forming cyclic structures in sugars including anomers