Examination of the molecular properties of D-fructose and L-sorbose by abinitio LCAO-MO calculations

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Abstract
Abinitio SCF LCAO-MO calculations at the STO-3G level have been performed on β-D-fructopyranose (1) and α-L-sorbopyranose (2) using crystallographic data as the geometrical input. Molecular properties of 1 and 2 are discussed in terms of orbital energies, total energy, ionization potentials, Mulliken population analysis, and electrostatic potentials, with a particular emphasis on the possible consequences of these features as regards the sweet taste of these two ketoses. No correlation was found, for example, with the electrostatic, point-charge distribution since the calculated hydrogen-bonding abilities would lead to the prediction of 2 being sweeter than 1. On the other hand, non-bonded overlap populations between oxygen and hydroxyl-hydrogen atoms reveal the presence of intramolecular interactions, which may have a determinant influence on the taste of these molecules and which could explain why D-fructose is much sweeter than its epimer at C-5, namely, L-sorbose.