Furanosides

Furanosides are a class of organic compounds that are glycosides where the sugar moiety is in its furanose form. A furanose is a cyclic form of a monosaccharide containing a five-membered ring, consisting of four carbon atoms and one oxygen atom. This is in contrast to pyranosides, where the sugar is in its pyranose form, a six-membered ring. The linkage between the anomeric carbon of the sugar and the aglycone (a non-carbohydrate group) in a furanoside is typically an oxygen atom, forming a glycosidic bond.

Furanosides are commonly found in nature, particularly as components of nucleic acids, such as ribonucleosides. In RNA, the ribose sugar is present in its furanose form, linked to a nitrogenous base. Other examples include certain plant glycosides and disaccharides. The specific stereochemistry at the anomeric carbon (alpha or beta) and the configuration of the sugar ring are important characteristics that define individual furanosides. The stability and reactivity of furanosides can differ from their pyranoside counterparts, influencing their biological roles and chemical behavior. Their study is important in fields like biochemistry, medicinal chemistry, and carbohydrate chemistry.