Unveiling epimerization effects: a rotational study of alpha-D-galactose

Abstract

By studying its C4 epimer alpha-D-galactose, the effects of epimerization on the conformational behaviour of alpha-D-glucose have been unveiled. Using laser ablation of crystalline samples, four conformers of alpha-D-galactopyranose have been observed, for the first time, in a supersonic expansion by analyzing the Fourier transform rotational spectrum.