Question

This section contains multiple choice questions. Each question has 4 choices (a), (b), (c) and (d), out of which ONLY ONE is correct. Interconversion of glucose, fructose and mannose when warmed with dilute alkali or amine is called (a) Fries rearrangement (b) Lobry de Bruyn-van Ekenstein rearrangement (c) Beckman's rearrangement (d) Hoffmann's rearrangement

Short answer

Answer: The name of the rearrangement process for the interconversion of glucose, fructose, and mannose when warmed with dilute alkali or amine is the Lobry de Bruyn-van Ekenstein rearrangement.

Step-by-step solution

Identify the rearrangement process for glucose, fructose, and mannose interconversion

The process of interconverting glucose, fructose, and mannose when warmed with dilute alkali or amine is called the Lobry de Bruyn-van Ekenstein rearrangement. This rearrangement involves the interconversion of aldoses and ketoses under basic conditions.

Match the correct option

Now that we know the correct name for the rearrangement process, we can compare it to the given options to find the correct answer. (a) Fries rearrangement (b) Lobry de Bruyn-van Ekenstein rearrangement (c) Beckman's rearrangement (d) Hoffmann's rearrangement The correct answer matches option (b), which is Lobry de Bruyn-van Ekenstein rearrangement.

Key concepts

Glucose Interconversion

The glucose interconversion is a fascinating process where glucose, a fundamental sugar in our body, can change its structure. This transformation usually happens under basic conditions, commonly involving an alkali or amine. When the conditions are right, glucose can interconvert into other sugars like fructose and mannose. This natural flexibility of sugar molecules is crucial for various biological processes.

One vital factor is the presence of enzymes that assist in these transformations. Without them, the conversion wouldn't proceed efficiently. The pivotal rearrangement occurring during this conversion is known as the Lobry de Bruyn-van Ekenstein rearrangement.

This rearrangement enables glucose (an aldose) to transform into fructose (a ketose), demonstrating an interconversion characteristic. Grasping this concept can help us understand the complex sugar machinery in cells better. The shared aldose-ketose nature makes these sugars interconvertible, showcasing their fascinating chemical flexibility.

Fructose Conversion

Fructose conversion involves the transformation of fructose under certain conditions, such as being warmed up with dilute alkali. Fructose is a ketose sugar, meaning it contains a keto group, whereas glucose and mannose are aldoses, having an aldehyde group.

The main conversion process involving fructose is again facilitated by the Lobry de Bruyn-van Ekenstein rearrangement. During this process, fructose can convert to glucose or mannose, allowing for a dynamic shift between these sugars based on the needs of an organism.

The ability of fructose to convert into glucose or mannose is essential for balancing sugar metabolism in living organisms. It helps organisms adapt to different energy requirements and dietary inputs by providing the necessary flexibility to modify the sugar composition.

Moreover, this conversion isn't just a one-way street. It demonstrates how fundamental chemical reactions underpin essential physiological processes, ensuring optimal energy availability in cells.

Mannose Rearrangement

Mannose rearrangement is an intriguing part of the sugar interconversion puzzle. Mannose, like glucose, is an aldose sugar, and its interconversion with other hexoses is part of what makes carbohydrate chemistry so flexible and vital.

Under the influence of a dilute alkali, mannose can undergo a Lobry de Bruyn-van Ekenstein rearrangement. This process allows mannose to switch between other sugars such as glucose and fructose, depending on environmental or cellular conditions. This interconversion capability is incredibly important in biological systems that require rapid responses to energy changes.

In essence, the conversion of mannose demonstrates not only the chemical flexibility but also the biochemical significance of sugar rearrangement. By participating in these rearrangements, mannose ensures that organisms maintain a balance of sugars necessary for their survival and proper functioning.