alphaglucofuranose

Alpha-glucofuranose is a cyclic form of glucose, a monosaccharide sugar. It is one of the four possible stereoisomers of glucose, specifically an anomer where the hydroxyl group on the anomeric carbon (C1) is oriented in the alpha (α) position. In alpha-glucofuranose, the glucose molecule cyclizes to form a five-membered ring, the furanose ring, rather than the more common six-membered pyranose ring. This furanose ring structure consists of four carbon atoms and one oxygen atom. While glucose predominantly exists in its pyranose form in aqueous solutions, the furanose form, including alpha-glucofuranose, is present in smaller equilibrium concentrations. The alpha anomer is distinguished by the orientation of the hydroxyl group at the anomeric carbon; in the alpha form, it points downwards relative to the plane of the ring. This specific arrangement influences its chemical reactivity and its interactions with other molecules, particularly in biological systems. Alpha-glucofuranose is an intermediate in certain metabolic pathways and can be found in some natural products, though it is less prevalent than its pyranose counterparts.