Vibrational absorption and circular dichroism spectra of five different monosaccharide pentaacetates were measured. These spectra were found to be dominated by the contributions from the acetate groups. In the carbonyl region, alpha- and beta-D-glucose pentaacetates do not show measurable vibrational circular dichroism (VCD), but alpha- and beta-D-galactose pentaacetates and alpha-D-mannose pentaacetate show significant VCD, with mannose pentaacetate giving opposite signs to those of alpha- and beta-D-galactose pentaacetates. These observed features are interpreted to reflect the orientation of carbonyl groups around the carbohydrate ring. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.