Polarimetry as a tool for the study of solutions of chiral solutes.

Optical rotation of aqueous solutions of D-levoglucosan was studied experimentally in the 0.03-4.0 mol L(-1) concentration range and a nonlinear concentration dependence of specific optical rotation (SR) was revealed.

Specific rotation as a property to validate monosaccharide conformations.

Specific rotation ([α](D)) values were calculated for the 15 conformations of xylopyranose that are the most stable in the gas phase and in aqueous solution. The effects of different theoretical descriptions and the medium on the geometry of the conformers and the [α](D) values are evaluated. Differences in [α](D) values found for the same conformer in all descriptions used were smaller than those found between any two different conformers in the same description.