Mutarotation of Alpha-D Glucose:
Mutarotation is the spontaneous change in the specific rotation of an optically active compound when it is dissolved in a solvent. It is commonly observed in monosaccharides such as glucose. Alpha-D glucose is a cyclic hemiacetal in its equilibrium mixture with its open-chain form.

Mechanism of Mutarotation:
The mutarotation of alpha-D glucose occurs through two steps:

1. Formation of an open-chain form: In the presence of water, the alpha-D glucose undergoes hydrolysis to form an open-chain aldehyde or keto form known as the straight-chain form. This process involves the breaking of the glycosidic bond between the anomeric carbon and the hydroxyl group in the hemiacetal.

2. Formation of a new alpha or beta cyclic form: The open-chain form can then spontaneously cyclize to form a new alpha or beta cyclic hemiacetal. This process involves the formation of a new glycosidic bond between the anomeric carbon and a hydroxyl group from another carbon in the glucose molecule.

Mutarotation of Delta Gluconolactone:
Delta gluconolactone is the cyclic ester of gluconic acid. It does not undergo mutarotation in the same way as alpha-D glucose. The mechanism of mutarotation in delta gluconolactone is different due to its different chemical structure.

Mechanism of Mutarotation in Delta Gluconolactone:
The mutarotation of delta gluconolactone involves the following steps:

1. Hydrolysis of the lactone ring: In the presence of water, the lactone ring in delta gluconolactone undergoes hydrolysis to form gluconic acid. This process involves the breaking of the ester bond between the carboxyl group and the hydroxyl group.

2. Formation of an open-chain form: The gluconic acid can then exist in its open-chain form, which is a straight-chain carboxylic acid. This form does not undergo further cyclization or mutarotation.

Differences in Mechanism:
The main difference between the mutarotation of alpha-D glucose and delta gluconolactone lies in the initial steps of the mechanism. Alpha-D glucose undergoes hydrolysis of the glycosidic bond to form an open-chain form, whereas delta gluconolactone undergoes hydrolysis of the ester bond in the lactone ring to form an open-chain carboxylic acid.

While both compounds can exist in different forms, the mechanism of mutarotation in alpha-D glucose involves the interconversion between the open-chain and cyclic forms, whereas in delta gluconolactone, it involves the hydrolysis of the lactone ring and the formation of an open-chain carboxylic acid.

Therefore, the mutarotation of alpha-D glucose and delta gluconolactone does not follow a similar mechanism.