Hydration of cellobiose: Structure and dynamics of cellobiose -(H2O)n, n = 5-25

► Cis β-cellobiose remains lower in energy than trans, even in clusters with 25 H2O. ► Water network at the sugar surface is disturbed more by cis than by trans isomer. ► In pyranose dimers, stable hydration develops across the glycosidic bond.