N.m.r. and conformational analysis of the capsular polysaccharide from Streptococcus pneumoniae type 4

The 1H- and 13C-n.m.r. data on the capsular polysaccharide (1) produced by Streptococcus pneumoniae type 4, the depyruvated polysaccharide (2), and a tetrasaccharide (3a) derived by Smith degradation of 2 were used as constraints on a computer-generated model of the conformation of 1 and to assess the effects of the pyruvic acetal substituent on the conformation. The dynamics of the polysaccharide systems and the influence of the pyruvic acetal were investigated using 13C-n.m.r. relaxation measurements.