Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
epimerize
verb
/ˌɛpəˈmaɪz/
Definition
To convert one epimer into another by changing the configuration at a specific stereogenic center.
Examples
- During the reaction, glucose can epimerize to form mannose.
- Chemists often study how certain compounds epimerize under different conditions.
Meaning
Epimerization is a process that alters the arrangement of atoms in a compound, specifically at one asymmetric carbon, resulting in a different epimer of the original molecule.
Synonyms
- isomerize
- convert
