Question

If two isomers have been classified correctly as anomers, they may be also called:
(A) Conformers
(B) Enantiomers
(C) Tautomers
(D) Diastereomers

Answer 1

Hint: An anomer is a kind of geometric variation found at some atoms in carbohydrate molecules and an epimer is a stereoisomer that varies in configuration at any single stereo genic center. α-D-glucose and β-D-glucose are the examples for anomers.

Complete step by step answer:
If two isomers are anomers, means in one of the anomers the position of one of the functional groups is assumed as α and the position of the same functional group in the second molecule of anomer is β.
If the position of the functional group is going to change then those anomers are not mirror images and non-superimposable.

α-D-Glucose β-D-Glucose

α-D-Glucose and β-D-Glucose are examples of anomers.
* We know that if two isomers are not mirror images and non-superimposable, they are called diastereomers.
* Coming to given options, Option A, Conformers. Conformers are mirror images but anomers are not mirror images. So, it is wrong.
* Coming to option B, Enantiomers. Enantiomers are mirror images but anomers are not mirror images. So, it is wrong.
* Coming to option C, Tautomers. anomers won’t be tautomers.
* Coming to option D, Diastereomers. Yes, anomers may be diastereomers.
Therefore the correct answer is diastereomers.

So, the correct option is D.

Note: Don’t be confused with the words anomers and epimers. Both are not the same.
Anomers are only cyclic molecules and epimers or either cyclic or acyclic.
Epimers are different from each other only at chiral carbon.