EPIMER Meaning and
Definition
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An epimer refers to a type of stereoisomer that possesses slight variations in the spatial arrangement of atoms around a particular chiral carbon atom in a molecule. Specifically, an epimer is defined as a pair of diastereomers that vary only at one chiral center, while all other chiral centers within the molecule remain the same. This difference in configuration occurs at a single carbon atom, resulting in the change of properties or functionalities between the epimers.
Epimers can be further classified based on the specific atom involved in the alteration of configuration. For example, if the change occurs at the hydroxyl group of a sugar, the epimers are referred to as sugar epimers. This term is frequently utilized in the context of carbohydrate chemistry, highlighting the differences in sugar molecules with modifications at one carbon atom.
Epimers often possess similar physical and chemical properties due to the similarity in overall molecular structure, but their specific biological activities or interactions can differ significantly. These variations can induce diverse physiological effects, such as changes in taste, solubility, or binding affinity to certain receptors. As such, the distinction between epimers is of great importance in fields such as pharmacology, biochemistry, and organic chemistry, where even subtle changes in molecular structures can yield significant alterations in function or reactivity.
Common Misspellings for EPIMER
- wpimer
- spimer
- dpimer
- rpimer
- 4pimer
- 3pimer
- eoimer
- elimer
- e0imer
- epumer
- epjmer
- epkmer
- epomer
- ep9mer
- ep8mer
- epiner
- epiker
- epijer
- epimwr
- epimsr
Etymology of EPIMER
The word "epimer" comes from Greek origins. It is derived from the Greek words "epi", meaning "upon" or "over", and "meros", meaning "part". In Greek, the term "epimer" refers to a compound that differs from another compound by the orientation of a single functional group. In modern scientific usage, "epimer" has a more specific meaning, referring to stereoisomers that differ in the configuration of only one chiral center. The word was adopted into English in the 19th century.
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