A simplified and practical method for methylation analysis of polysaccharides

摘要

Butyllithium is directly added to the solution of polysaccharides in dimethyl sulfoxide. THe methylsulfinyl carbanion, as sugar-alkoxide-forming reagent, is generated in the solution. All the operations are performed as one-pot reaction. Five polysaccharides from different traditional Chinese medicines and four dextrans have been methylatated and satisfactory results achieved.