1,2-o-isopropylidene-d-glucofuranose

Description

## 1,2-O-Isopropylidene-D-glucofuranose: A Key Building Block for Chemical Synthesis

**1,2-O-Isopropylidene-D-glucofuranose** (also known as **isopropylidene glucose** or **D-glucose 1,2-acetal**) is a **protected derivative** of D-glucose. It is a white, crystalline solid with a sweet taste.

**Key Features:**

* **Protected form of D-glucose:** The hydroxyl groups on the 1st and 2nd carbon atoms of D-glucose are protected as an acetal with an isopropylidene group. This protection prevents unwanted reactions at these positions.
* **Furanose form:** The sugar exists in the furanose form, a five-membered ring structure.
* **Versatile building block:** It acts as a starting material for the synthesis of a wide range of carbohydrate derivatives, including complex oligosaccharides, glycoconjugates, and other biologically relevant molecules.

**Why is it important for research?**

**1. Synthesis of Carbohydrate Analogs:**

* **Glycosylation:** The protected hydroxyl groups make it easier to introduce other sugar units (glycosylation) through controlled reactions. This allows researchers to create complex oligosaccharides and glycoconjugates, essential for studying carbohydrate recognition and biological functions.
* **Modification of sugar backbone:** The isopropylidene group can be easily removed under mild conditions, allowing for further modifications and functionalization of the sugar molecule.

**2. Studying Biological Systems:**

* **Model for glycobiology:** 1,2-O-Isopropylidene-D-glucofuranose acts as a model system for studying the structure and interactions of carbohydrates in biological systems.
* **Drug development:** Researchers utilize it in designing and synthesizing potential drug candidates that target carbohydrate-binding proteins involved in various disease processes.

**3. Chemical and Materials Science:**

* **Chiral building blocks:** The molecule's chiral nature makes it valuable for creating chiral materials and catalysts with specific properties.
* **Organic synthesis:** It serves as a starting material for synthesizing a range of organic molecules with potential applications in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and polymers.

**Overall, 1,2-O-Isopropylidene-D-glucofuranose plays a vital role in various research fields, particularly in carbohydrate chemistry, glycobiology, drug development, and materials science.** Its ability to protect the sugar molecule, provide a versatile building block, and model biological interactions makes it a crucial reagent for exploring the fascinating world of carbohydrates.

1,2-O-isopropylidene-D-glucofuranose: RN given refers to (alpha-D)-isomer [Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), National Library of Medicine, extracted Dec-2023]