This book introduces the chemistry of carbohydrates, a family of molecules that have a central role in metabolism. This pivotal role in the biochemistry of life makes the study of carbohydrates important to both students of biochemistry and chemistry; this class of compound can also be used to illustrate some of the important principles of stereochemistry.

• 1: Introduction


• 2: Open chain and ring structure of monosaccharide


• 3: Reactions of the anomeric centre Part I


• 4: Reactions of hydroxyl groups Part I


• 5: Reactions of the anomeric centre Part II


• 6: Reactions of hydroxyl groups Part II: cyclic acetals


• 7: Chemical disaccharide formation


• 8: Enzymatic disaccharide formation


• 9: Chemical glycobiology


• Appendix: drawing sugars


• Answers to problems


• Further reading


• Index