Oxidative alkaline degradation of cellobiose

Abstract

The nature and concentrations of products arising from the alkaline degradation of cellobiose were determined by varying the base, base concentration, sugar concentration, temperature, and atmosphere within the reaction vessel. In nitrogen, the oxidation reactions could effectively be eliminated. By introducing oxygen at various concentrations, oxidation reactions to aldonic acids predominated. The major acids found from the reducing end were 3,4-dihydroxybutyric acid and isosaccharinic acid, whilst d-arabinonic and glyceric acids were formed from the nonreducing end. In the stopping reaction, the major bound acids were 3- O-β- d-glycopyranosyl- d-arabinonic acid, 2- O-β- d-glucopyranosyl- d-erythronic acid, and 4- O-β- d-glucopyranosyl- d-mannonic acid. The yields of isosaccharinic and aldonic acids varied as the base and sugar concentrations were changed, and this clearly illustrated that the conditions of alkaline degradation determined the proportions of products obtained.