Acetal formation

• Helps in synthesis of more complex molecule from monosaccharide.
• Helps in formation of polysaccharides.
• Helps in removing water formed from starting materials.
• Similar bond can be formed from Amino group as shown below:

• The Aldehyde group of an aldose sugar can be oxidized to the carboxylic acid.
• The existence of a hemi-acetal ring structure doesn’t prevent this from happening.
• Immediate product is lactone and not the free acid.
• Aldehyde group are oxidizable however ketose sugar isn’t readily oxidized.