A NEW METHOD FOR PREPARING HYDROXYETHYL ETHERS OF GLUCOSE

Abstract

Three monosubstituted hydroxyethyl ethers of D-glucose have been synthesized by a novel method involving reduction of the corresponding carboxymethyl derivatives with lithium aluminum hydride. This technique also allowed introduction for the first time of hydroxyethyl substituents containing polyethylene oxide chains of a definite length in the glucose molecule, as exemplified by the synthesis of 3-O-hydroxyethoxyethyl-D-glucose.