What are Epimers?
Epimer in stereochemistry specifies one of a pair of stereoisomers. At the stereogenic centre, two isomers present in the molecule differ, while the rest remains identical. A molecule may contain numerous stereocenters leading to several stereoisomers.
![]() |
Epimers |
Stereoisomers are isomeric molecules that possess the same constitution and molecular formula, but they vary in three-dimensional orientations of their atoms in space.
Epimers – Example
Below, stereoisomers illustrate the D and L configurations of glucose. Here, glucose is referred the D and L on the basis of last chiral carbon atom.
Glucose involves the formation of glycogen, starch, glucose, oligosaccharides and polysaccharides. Due to the presence of carbon in glucose molecule it may exhibit stereoisomerism, that is enantiomers and diastereomers.
What is Epimerisation/EPIMERIZATION?
Epimerization is a chemical process where an epimer is converted to its diastereomeric counterpart. It can happen in condensed tannins depolymerization reactions. Epimerization can be spontaneous (generally a slow process), or catalysed by enzymes, e.g. the epimerization between the sugars N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylmannosamine, which is catalysed by renin-binding protein.
![]() |
Epimerization |
The penultimate step in Zhang & Trudell's classic epibatidine synthesis is an example of epimerization. Pharmaceutical examples include epimerization of the erythro isomers of methylphenidate to the pharmacologically preferred and lower-energy threo isomers, and undesired in vivo epimerization of tesofensine to brasofensine.