Multinuclear NMR studies of water in solutions of simple carbohydrates.

Abstract

Oxygen-17 water relaxation is reported for the series of α(1 → 4) linked glucans, glucose to maltoheptaose over a wide range of sugar concentrations. The results can be interpreted quantitatively using a two-site exchange model where the ‘bound’ water reorients anisotropically. The effect of carbohydrate chain length on the fast and slow correlation times characterizing the bound water reorientation is discussed. Comparison is also made with the correlation times derived using deuterium relaxation.