Semimicro Determination of Sugar Configuration by Measurement of Circular Dichroism of Alditol Acetates

Abstract

The configuration (D or L) of a sugar may be determined conveniently by circular dichroism measurements at 213 nm on alditol acetates, or their methylated derivatives, where the acetoxy group acts as a chromophore. Only milligram quantities of material are required and the method is well suited to analyzing fractions obtained by gas–liquid chromatography. Structural information which may be derived from the c.d. spectra is briefly discussed.