Which of the following compounds will behave as a reducing sugar in an aqueous KOH solution?
(A)(see structure)
(B)(see structure)✓ Correct
(C)(see structure)
(D)(see structure)
Answer: (B)
Solution
A sugar reduces only if it can open to expose a free carbonyl. In warm alkali the structure able to ring-open and reveal a free aldehyde will act as a reducing sugar, whereas one locked at the anomeric carbon as a glycoside cannot open and stays non-reducing. The structure that can unmask a free aldehyde is the reducing sugar here.
JEE Main · 2017 · 02 Apr 2017 · Offline · Single correct option