Glyceraldehyde

Glyceraldehyde
Names
IUPAC name
2,3-Dihydroxypropanal
Other names
Glyceraldehyde
Glyceric aldehyde
Glyceral
Identifiers
56-82-6 YesY
ChEBI CHEBI:5445 YesY
ChEMBL ChEMBL173813 YesY
ChemSpider 731 YesY
Jmol interactive 3D Image
Image
PubChem 751
Properties[1]
C3H6O3
Molar mass 90.08 g·mol−1
Density 1.455 g/cm3
Melting point 145 °C (293 °F; 418 K)
Boiling point 140 to 150 at 0.8 mmHg
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Infobox references

Glyceraldehyde (glyceral) is a triose monosaccharide with chemical formula C3H6O3. It is the simplest of all common aldoses. It is a sweet, colorless, crystalline solid that is an intermediate compound in carbohydrate metabolism. The word comes from combining glycerol and aldehyde, as glyceraldehyde is glycerol with one hydroxymethyl group oxidized to an aldehyde.

Structure

Glyceraldehyde has one chiral center and therefore exists as two different enantiomers with opposite optical rotation:

d-glyceraldehyde
(R)-glyceraldehyde
(+)-glyceraldehyde		 l-glyceraldehyde
(S)-glyceraldehyde
(−)-glyceraldehyde
Fischer projection
Skeletal formula
Ball-and-stick model

While the optical rotation of glyceraldehyde is (+) for R and (−) for S, this is not true for all monosaccharides. The stereochemical configuration can only be determined from the chemical structure, whereas the optical rotation can only be determined empirically (by experiment).

It was by a lucky guess that the molecular d- geometry was assigned to (+)-glyceraldehyde in the late 19th century, as confirmed by X-ray crystallography in 1951.[2]

Nomenclature

In the d/l system, glyceraldehyde is used as the configurational standard for carbohydrates. Monosaccharides with an absolute configuration identical to (R)-glyceraldehyde at the last stereocentre, for example C5 in glucose, are assigned the stereo-descriptor d-. Those similar to (S)-glyceraldehyde are assigned an l-.

Synthesis and biochemical role

Glyceraldehyde can be prepared, along with dihydroxyacetone, by the mild oxidation of glycerol, for example with hydrogen peroxide and a ferrous salt as catalyst. Dihydroxyacetone, the simplest ketose, is an isomer of glyceraldehyde. Interconversion of the phosphates of these two compounds, catalyzed by the enzyme triosephosphate isomerase, is an important intermediate step in glycolysis.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Merck Index, 11th Edition, 4376
  2. ↑ Determination of the Absolute Configuration of Optically Active Compounds by Means of X-Rays Nature 168, 271-272 J. M. BIJVOET, A. F. PEERDEMAN & A. J. van BOMMEL doi:10.1038/168271a0
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