Deoxyribose, or more precisely 2-deoxyribose, is a monosaccharide with idealized formula H−(C=O)−(CH₂)−(CHOH)₃−H. Its name indicates that it is a deoxy sugar, meaning that it is derived from the sugar ribose by loss of a hydroxy group. Discovered in 1929 by Phoebus Levene,^[2] deoxyribose is most notable for its presence in DNA. Since the pentose sugars arabinose and ribose only differ by the stereochemistry at C2′, 2-deoxyribose and 2-deoxyarabinose are equivalent, although the latter term is rarely used because ribose, not arabinose, is the precursor to deoxyribose.

Quick Facts Names, Identifiers ...

d-deoxyribose

Names
IUPAC name 2-deoxy-d-ribose
Other names 2-deoxy-d-erythro-pentose thyminose
Identifiers
CAS Number	533-67-5 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChEBI	CHEBI:28816 Y
ChemSpider	4573703 Y
EC Number	208-573-0
PubChem CID	5460005
UNII	LSW4H01241 Y
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID60190259
InChI InChI=1S/C5H10O4/c6-2-1-4(8)5(9)3-7/h2,4-5,7-9H,1,3H2/t4-,5+/m0/s1 Y Key: ASJSAQIRZKANQN-CRCLSJGQSA-N Y InChI=1/C5H10O4/c6-2-1-4(8)5(9)3-7/h2,4-5,7-9H,1,3H2/t4-,5+/m0/s1 Key: ASJSAQIRZKANQN-CRCLSJGQBK
SMILES C(C=O)[C@@H]([C@@H](CO)O)O
Properties[1]
Chemical formula	C5H10O4
Molar mass	134.131 g·mol−1
Appearance	White solid
Melting point	91 °C (196 °F; 364 K)
Solubility in water	Very soluble
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Y verify (what is YN ?) Infobox references

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Several isomers exist with the formula H−(C=O)−(CH₂)−(CHOH)₃−H, but in deoxyribose all the hydroxyl groups are on the same side in the Fischer projection. The term "2-deoxyribose" may refer to either of two enantiomers: the biologically important d-2-deoxyribose and to the rarely encountered mirror image l-2-deoxyribose.^[3] d-2-deoxyribose is a precursor to the nucleic acid DNA. 2-deoxyribose is an aldopentose, that is, a monosaccharide with five carbon atoms and having an aldehyde functional group.

In aqueous solution, deoxyribose primarily exists as a mixture of three structures: the linear form H−(C=O)−(CH₂)−(CHOH)₃−H and two ring forms, deoxyribofuranose ("C3′-endo"), with a five-membered ring, and deoxyribopyranose ("C2′-endo"), with a six-membered ring. The latter form is predominant (whereas the C3′-endo form is favored for ribose).

As a component of DNA, 2-deoxyribose derivatives have an important role in biology.^[4] The DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) molecule, which is the main repository of genetic information in life, consists of a long chain of deoxyribose-containing units called nucleotides, linked via phosphate groups. In the standard nucleic acid nomenclature, a DNA nucleotide consists of a deoxyribose molecule with an organic base (usually adenine, thymine, guanine or cytosine) attached to the 1′ ribose carbon. The 5′ hydroxyl of each deoxyribose unit is replaced by a phosphate (forming a nucleotide) that is attached to the 3′ carbon of the deoxyribose in the preceding unit.

The absence of the 2′ hydroxyl group in deoxyribose is apparently responsible for the increased mechanical flexibility of DNA compared to RNA, which allows it to assume the double-helix conformation, and also (in the eukaryotes) to be compactly coiled within the small cell nucleus. The double-stranded DNA molecules are also typically much longer than RNA molecules. The backbone of RNA and DNA are structurally similar, but RNA is single stranded, and made from ribose as opposed to deoxyribose.

Other biologically important derivatives of deoxyribose include mono-, di-, and triphosphates, as well as 3′-5′ cyclic monophosphates.