Epimers and anomers are both optical isomers that differ in the configuration at a single carbon atom, but there is a difference in their definitions.
Epimers
Epimers are optical isomers that differ in the configuration of a single carbon atom
For example, D-galactose and D-mannose are epimers of D-glucose.
(from biochemnoob.wordpress.com)
D-Galactose is an epimer of D-glucose because the two sugars differ only in the configuration at ##”C-4″##.
D-Mannose is an epimer of D-glucose because the two sugars differ only in the configuration at ##”C-2″##.
Anomers
When a molecule such as glucose converts to a cyclic form, it generates a new chiral centre at ##”C-1″##.
(from
The carbon atom that generates the new chiral centre (##”C-1″##) is called the anomeric carbon.
Anomers are special cases — they are epimers that differ in configuration only at the anomeric carbon.
For example, α-D-glucose and β-D-glucose are anomers.
(from wikispaces.psu.edu
The α form has the anomeric ##”OH”## group at ##”C-1″## on the opposite side of the ring from the ##”CH”_2″OH”## group at ##”C-5″##.
The β form has the anomeric ##”OH”## group on the same side as the ##”CH”_2″OH”##.
In D-fructose, the carbonyl group is at ##”C-2″##.
(fromweb.pdx.edu)
Here, ##”C-2″## is the anomeric carbon.
(from science.uvu.edu
α-D-Fructofuranose and β-D-fructofuranose are anomers.
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