Lactic Acid → (2R,3S,4R,5R)-2,3,4,5,6-pentahydroxyhexanal

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Reaction Steps

This type of alkaline oxidative degradation, which is 25 effective both on hemiacetal functions and on ketone functions, also entails the formation of by-products such as, in particular, carbonic acid, oxalic acid, glyceric acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, erythronic acid and, of course, fornic acid, which are obtained in a molar yield of about 25% from glucose when the alkalinity conditions are such that they allow a 75% yield of arabinonate. Formic acid is always produced in yields close to 100% of the stoichiometry.

Provenance & Evidence