Spectrophotometric analyses of ribose and 2-deoxy-d-ribose alone and in mixtures

Abstract

The rates of production of the chromophore for ribose (R) and the maximum absorbance of the chromophore for 2-deoxy-d-ribose (DR), produced under thermal and acidic conditions are directly related to their sugar concentrations. These factors are the bases for qualitative and quantitative analysis of these sugars. The λmax. 261mμ chromophore of degraded DR is stable for at least 15hr. after 5hr. of treatment at 80.0° with 1.0M HCI. The λmax. 277mμ chromophore of degraded R increases continuously during the same period at an apparent zero-order rate. These phenomena serve as bases for a sensitive spectrophotometric assay of both sugars, alone and in mixtures. These acid-generated chromophores when made alkaline generate other absorption bands with specific properties which permit additional methods of differentiation between the sugars.