Synthesis of Biomolecules (1&2)

Mutarotation

The change in optical rotation that occurs when an α-anomer and β-anomer of a sugar interconvert in solution.

Anomeric Position

The carbon atom in a cyclic sugar that was the carbonyl carbon in the open-chain form, which determines the α or β configuration.

Glycosidic Bond

A covalent bond formed between a carbohydrate molecule and another molecule, typically another carbohydrate, through a condensation reaction.

Chair Conformation

The most stable three-dimensional arrangement of six-membered rings, such as those found in hexose sugars, with equatorial substituents being more stable than axial.

Hemiacetal

A compound formed from a reaction of an alcohol with an aldehyde that can interconvert between its anomeric forms, requiring a free hydroxyl group.

Acetal Formation

The process by which an aldehyde reacts with an alcohol to form an acetal, which cannot undergo mutarotation.

Regioselectivity

The preference for a reaction to occur at one location over another in a molecule.

Peptide Bond Formation

The process of creating a covalent bond between two amino acids through dehydration synthesis, releasing water.

Racemization

The conversion of an optically active compound into a racemic mixture, affecting stereochemistry.

Protecting Groups

Chemicals used to temporarily mask reactive functional groups during chemical synthesis to prevent unwanted reactions.

Activation of Amino Acids

The process of preparing an amino acid for reaction with another amino acid by converting it into a more reactive form.

Coupling Reagent

A chemical used to facilitate the formation of peptide bonds between amino acids by making the C-terminal carboxylic acid more reactive.

Diastereomeric Products

Stereoisomers that are not mirror images of each other, often formed during reactions that lack stereospecificity.

Dipeptide

A molecule consisting of two amino acids linked by a peptide bond.

Peptides

Short chains of amino acids linked by peptide bonds; they exhibit various biological activities.

Carbohydrates

Organic compounds consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, critical for energy and structural functions in living organisms.

Oligopeptide

A peptide consisting of 2-15 amino acids.

Glycosidic bond

A type of covalent bond that joins a carbohydrate molecule to another group, which may or may not be another carbohydrate.

Protecting group

A chemical modification used to temporarily mask a functional group to prevent it from participating in a reaction.

Activation of glycosyl donors

A series of chemical modifications that enhance the reactivity of carbohydrates to facilitate glycosidic bond formation.

Solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS)

A method for synthesizing peptides by anchoring amino acids to a solid support and sequentially adding more amino acids.

Mutarotation

The process by which an anomer interconverts to another anomer, resulting in a change in optical rotation.

Anomeric effect

The tendency of the anomeric carbon's substituent to be in an equatorial position leading to increased stability.

Stereochemistry

The study of the spatial arrangement of atoms in molecules and how this affects their chemical properties.

Curly arrow mechanism

A representation of electron movement in chemical reactions, showing the transformation of electrons during bond breaking and formation.

Secondary structure

The local folded structures that form within a polypeptide due to interactions between atoms of the backbone.

Dipeptide

A molecule consisting of two amino acid residues linked by a peptide bond.

Enzyme

A protein that catalyzes biochemical reactions by lowering the activation energy required.

Coenzyme

A non-protein molecule that assists enzymes in catalyzing reactions.

Synthesis

The process of combining different entities to create a complex product, particularly in the context of organic chemistry.