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Chemistry

Haworth Projections and the Anomeric Effect in Monosaccharides

Quick fact

In glucose, the hydroxyl group at the anomeric carbon prefers to point 'up' (axial) rather than 'equatorial', even though equatorial would be less crowded—this is the anomeric effect, a consequence of orbital interactions.

Why this is interesting

You may have seen glucose drawn as a linear chain of carbons, but in reality it exists mainly as a ring. Why do certain sugar rings prefer a shape that seems sterically unfavorable?