LONG CARBON CHAIN CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS: 1,3-(BIS-5-ALDOXYLOSYLIDENE-1)-ACETONE AND ITS POLYMER WITH 1,3-DICARBETHOXYACETONE

Abstract

1,3-Dicarbethoxy-1,3-(bis-(4′,5′-O-isopropylidene-D-xylofuranosylidene))-acetone was hydrolyzed and decarboxylated to produce 1,3-(bis-D-xylofuranosylidene-5)-acetone (III) and 1,3-(bis-5-aldoxylosylidene-1)-acetone (IV). Compound IV reacted with 1,3-dicarbethoxyacetone in 75% methanol, with piperidine as catalyst, to give polymers V and VI and some intermediates. The main component of polymer V had a molecular weight between 2 000 and 4 000, and there were six to seven components with molecular weights of less than 2 000. Because the molecular weight of the repeating unit is approximately 500, a polymer with a molecular weight of 2 500 would have 80 carbons in a continuous chain, and one with a molecular weight of 3 500 would have 112 carbons. The work presented in this article may open broad areas of further research.