mutarotation

The aldehyde and ketone functional groups in these carbohydrates react with neighbouring [|hydroxyl] functional groups to form [|intramolecular] [|hemiacetals] and [|hemiketals], respectively. The resulting ring structure is related to [|pyran], and is termed a [|pyranose]. The ring spontaneously opens and closes, allowing rotation to occur about the bond between the [|carbonyl] group and the neighbouring carbon atom, yielding two distinct configurations (α and β). This process is termed [|mutarotation]. Hexose sugars can form [|dihexose] sugars with a condensation reaction to form a 1,6- [|glycosidic bond].