Vibrational spectra of epoxysaccharides. Normal mode analysis of different conformers

Anhydro derivatives of carbohydrates are of interest as key intermediates or substrates in the chemical synthesis of biologically important compounds. Steric factors are known to play an important part in these reactions [1]. We have investigated the effect of steric factors on vibrational spectra of two sugar epoxides: methyl 2, 3-anhydro-4-deoxy-α-d, l-ribo-hexapyranoside (R) and methyl 3, 4-anhydro-α-d, l-talo-hexapyranoside (T) (Fig. 1).