The utility of 13C-NMR spectroscopy as a tool for conformational analysis in carbohydrate chemistry is described. The 13C atoms of axially oriented methoxy groups of methylglycosides absorb 1.5 to 2 ppm towards higher field than the equatorially oriented anomeric methoxy carbons. According to this rule in solution the methyl-D-arabinopyranosides should be present predominantly in the 1 C-conformation.
