In recent years, L-arabinose (1) and D-galactose (3) have received much attention as important pharmaceutical intermediates. L-arabinose is a useful starting material for the chemical synthesis of other L-pentoses and derivatives thereof. It has application in food processing as a non-caloric sweetener and is widely used for the treatment of diabetes and obesity because its special function of inhibiting intestinal sucrase activity, thereby delaying sucrose digestion. D-galactose is also used as a sweetener in the food industry and as an intermediate in many chemical syntheses.
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