The beta conformer is the second of the two "chair conformers" that
exist in water. The population of beta is much larger than that of
alpha. The important difference in these two sugars is that the
methoxy group is equatorial to the ring. It is often assumed that
steric interference is the determining factor in
the ratio of alpha/beta
anomers.
Highlight the equatorial group and notice where it is in relation to
the other groups.
Wire Frame: Ring O red; Anomeric O (C1) green
Oxygen in Green
Dot surface and Wireframe
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