- Glycolaldehyde
chembox new
Name = Glycolaldehyde
ImageFile = Glycolaldehyde.png
ImageSize = 120px
ImageName = Glycolaldehyde
IUPACName = 2-hydroxyacetaldehyde
Section1 = Chembox Identifiers
CASNo = 141-46-8
ChemSpiderID = 736
SMILES = O=CCO
Section2 = Chembox Properties
Formula = C2H4O2
MolarMass = 60.052 g/mol
Density =
MeltingPt =
BoilingPt =Glycolaldehyde (HOCH2-CH=O) is the smallest possible molecule that contains both an
aldehyde group and a hydroxyl group. It is the only possiblediose , a 2-carbonmonosaccharide , although a diose is not strictly a saccharide.Formation
Glycolaldehyde is an intermediate in the
formose reaction .Glycolaldehyde forms from many precursors, including the
amino acid glycine . It can form by action ofketolase onfructose 1,6-bisphosphate in an alternate glycolysis pathway. This compound is transferred bythiamine pyrophosphate during thepentose phosphate shunt .In purine catabolism,
xanthine is first converted to urate. This is converted to 5-hydroxyisourate, which decarboxylates toallantoin andallantoic acid . After hydrolyzing oneurea , this leavesglycolureate . After hydrolyzing the second urea, glycolaldehyde is left. Two glycolaldehydes condense to formerythrose 4-phosphate, which goes to the pentose phosphate shunt again.Glycolaldehyde was identified in many other
planet s and also at the middle of theMilky Way . Although technically not sugar, the discovery of interplanetary glycolaldehyde has been reported in many publications as "sugar found in space".External links
*cite news | title=Cold Sugar in Space Provides Clue to the Molecular Origin of Life | publisher=National Radio Astronomy Observatory | date=
September 20 ,2004 | url=http://www.nrao.edu/pr/2004/coldsugar/ | accessdate=2006-12-20
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