Resolution of infrared spectra and kinetic analysis of mutarotation of d-mannose in water

Infrared spectra of a solution of d-mannose undergoing mutarotation were acquired at regular time intervals. The spectra were first-order differentiated and sequential rank analysis was used to obtain the concentration profiles of the anomers. Least-squares were then used to resolve the infrared spectra of the anomers. Rate constants for the conversion from α- to β-d-mannose were calculated from the concentration profiles. The constants are slightly different from earlier reported values, while the equilibrium concentrations agree well with reported values.