Reaction of Sugar Alcohols with the Anthrone Reagent

摘要

SUMMARYUnder appropriate conditions of acid concentration, heating time and temperature of heating, the sugar alcohols react with the anthrone reagent in a quantitative manner. Suitable conditions for reproducible quantitative results are: 0.15 anthrone in concentrated sulfuric acid and a heating time of 60 min at 99°C (in a boiling‐water bath). Color measurement should be made 30 minutes after cooling the reaction tubes in an ice water bath, since the intensity of the colors increased with time. Of the various sugar alcohols tested, the order of reactivity is: Glycerol>sorbitol>mannitol>dulcitol>erythri‐tol>arabitol>ribitol>xylitol. Absorption maxima occurred at 720 mμ, for mannitol, sorbitol, and dulcitol, and at 740 mμ for erythritol. Glycerol and the other sugar alcohols exhibited no sharp absorption