What does alpha acetal linkage mean?
1 Answer
An alpha acetal linkage is a glycoside linkage that points in the opposite direction to the
Explanation:
Let's begin by defining terms.
An acetal is a functional group formed when an aldehyde reacts with an alcohol to form a functional group with two ether groups on the same carbon.
The term "alpha acetal" usually refers to carbohydrates and their derivatives.
In the cyclic form of a carbohydrate, the anomeric carbon is the carbon that was the carbonyl carbon in the acyclic form.
Notice that the
A glycosidic linkage is the bond that forms when the hemiacetal
For example,
The
If the glycoside linkage points "down" (i.e., in a direction opposite to the