Formation of L-Xylosone from Ascorbic Acid

Abstract

DURING a study of the carbonyl compounds produced during cider fermentations an immediate precipitate (A) was obtained at room temperature on addition of dinitrophenylhydrazine to a sulphited cider (that is, a cider obtained from a juice to which 150 parts per million sulphur dioxide had been added after milling and pressing the fruit). A similar precipitate was formed in a sulphited Bramley Seedling juice which had failed to ferment, but no appreciable precipitate was noted in non-sulphited fermentations. The derivative (A) on a paper chromatogram gave a blue colour with sodium hydroxide solution which indicated the possibility of osazone formation. Owing to the difficulty of purifying the 2: 4-dinitrophenylhydrazine derivative, the phenylhydrazine derivative (B) was prepared from a sulphited cider at room temperature.