The Fischer nomenclature of sugars and amino acids

Hermann Emil Fischer (1852 - 1919)

Fischer is the pioneer in the study of sugars. As these substances are optically active, Fischer invented a mode of representation and a nomenclature still widely used today.

The Fischer projection

Principle:

Example:

The Fischer nomenclature

The nomenclature R and S of enantiomers dates only from 1966. Emil Fischer had his own method to describe these two enantiomers:

Principle:

Fischer projection: OH or NH2 on the right side : enantiomer D OH or NH2 on the left side : enantiomer L

D and L don't correspond in any way to d and l respectively + and - characterizing the rotation of polarized light!

Example:

Check yourself (see below) that this is the enantiomer R . It was found (you can not predict!) that this substance rotates the plane of polarization of polarized light to the right, so that's D (+) - glyceraldehyde R (+) - 2,3-dihydroxypropanal

Method to go from D/L to R/S

Method to go from R/S to D/L