For the glycosidic bond in maltose, why is the glycosidic bond formed between hydroxyl group on C1 in 1 glucose molecule and hydroxyl group on C4 of the other glucose molecule? Why not between, say, hydroxyl group of C2 on one and hydroxyl group of C4 on the other?
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1 Answer
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In a cyclic molecule of glucose, C1 is the result of the aldehide group linked to C5. This makes C1 a reducing carbon that can share electrons. This is why C1 must always take part in a glycosidic bond.
The other carbon may be C'1, C'2, C'4 etc. That changes the structure and name of the molecule (i.e. two glucoses bound by α 1-4 bond is Maltose and by α 1-6 is Isomaltose)
