A-L-Sorbose

There are several reasons for reservations about applying the computer extrapolation of crystal structure data for carbohydrates. One is that much of the crystal structure data refer to unsubstituted sugars which are only soluble in hydroxylic or polar solvents where the conformational analysis may be complicated by hydrolysis, isomerism (muta-rotation) (12), or stereospecific solvent interactions which require a more sophisticated model. However, assuming that such chemical changes do not occur or can be suppressed, there still remain questions to be answered before the conformation observed in the crystal can be accepted as a close enough approximation to that of one or more of the rotomers which may predominate in the solution state. (a-L-Sorbose gives an example of the coexistence of two primary alcohol rotameric... 

Because of similarities in the properties and reactions of sorbose and fructose, Schlubach and Graefe86 suggested that a-L-sorbose is closely related to /3-D-fructose. This was further investigated by Ohle87 who showed experimentally that /3-D-fructose and a-L-sorbose have the same configuration except at C5. Hudson88 has suggested that in /3-D-fructose the hydroxyls on C2 and on C3 are cis. 

Synthesis from i-sorbose The first total synthesis of DMDP (1) has been reported from L-sorbose (Scheme 5). L-Sorbose was converted into 3,4-di-O-acetyl-1,2-0-isopropylidene-5-O-tosyl-a-L-sorbose (28) in three steps. Nucleophilic displacement of the tosyloxy group with azide ion afforded the azido derivative 29. Removal of the protecting groups from 29 with sodium methoxide followed by acidic ion-exchange resin afforded 30, which upon catalytic hydrogenation produced the pyrrolidine 1 in 43 % overall yield from 28. 

The role of the crystalline surface structure, and in particular long range surface order, of platinum electrodes in the electrooxidation of D-glucose in acidic media has been discussed. Papers have been published on the effects of adsorbed anions on the oxidation of D-glucose on gold single crystal electrodes, and on the oxidation of D-sorbose and 2,3 4,6-di-0-isopropylidene-a-L-sorbose by air over supported platinum and palladium catalysts. ... 

Most current industrial vitamin C production is based on the efficient second synthesis developed by Reichstein and Grbssner in 1934 (15). Various attempts to develop a superior, more economical L-ascorbic acid process have been reported since 1934. These approaches, which have met with htde success, ate summarized in Crawford s comprehensive review (46). Currently, all chemical syntheses of vitamin C involve modifications of the Reichstein and Grbssner approach (Fig. 5). In the first step, D-glucose (4) is catalytically (Ni-catalyst) hydrogenated to D-sorbitol (20). Oxidation to L-sotbose (21) occurs microhiologicaRy with The isolated L-sotbose is reacted with acetone and sulfuric acid to yield 2,3 4,6 diacetone-L-sorbose,... 

L-Sorhose to 2-KGA Fermentation. In China, a variant of the Reichstein-Grbssner synthesis has been developed on an industrial scale (see Fig. 5). L-Sorbose is oxidized direcdy to 2-ketogulonic acid (2-KGA) (24) in a mixed culture fermentation step (48). Acid-catalyzed lactonization and enolization of 2-KGA produces L-ascorbic acid (1). 

Sterile aqueous D-sorbitol solutions are fermented with y cetobacter subo >gichns in the presence of large amounts of air to complete the microbiological oxidation. The L-sorbose is isolated by crystallisation, filtration, and drying. Various methods for the fermentation of D-sorbitol have been reviewed (60). A.cetobacter suboyydans is the organism of choice as it gives L-sorbose in >90% yield (61). Large-scale fermentations can be carried out in either batch or continuous modes. In either case, stefihty is important to prevent contamination, with subsequent loss of product. 

In the third step, L-sorbose is reacted with acetone and excess sulfuric acid at low temperatures. The sorbose dissolves on conversion into the 2,3-mono-O-isopropjhdene-L-sorbose (2,3 monoacetone-L-sorbose) (MAS), and 2,3 4,6-bis-0-isoprop5hdene-a-L-sorbofuranose... 

Diacetone-L-sorbose (DAS) is oxidized at elevated temperatures in dilute sodium hydroxide in the presence of a catalyst (nickel chloride for bleach or palladium on carbon for air) or by electrolytic methods. After completion of the reaction, the mixture is worked up by acidification to 2,3 4,6-bis-0-isoptopyhdene-2-oxo-L-gulonic acid (2,3 4,6-diacetone-2-keto-L-gulonic acid) (DAG), which is isolated through filtration, washing, and drying. With sodium hypochlorite/nickel chloride, the reported DAG yields ate >90% (65). The oxidation with air has been reported, and a practical process was developed with palladium—carbon or platinum—carbon as catalyst (66,67). The electrolytic oxidation with nickel salts as the catalyst has also... 

Draw a Fischer projection structure for L-sorbose (o-sorbose is shown in Figure 7.3). 

The main drawback of the system is that the ketone catalyst slowly decomposes during the reaction, which means that 0.2-0.3 equivalents are needed for complete conversion. More robust catalysts, which can be used in 1-3 mol%, have recently been reported, but have not as yet been widely applied [8]. Ketone 1 is commercially available, or can easily be synthesized in large scale in two steps from d-fructose. Ent-1 is obtained in a similar way from L-sorbose. 

In 1952, Wolfrom and Hilton demonstrated that L-sorbose was also capable of forming dimeric dianhydrides,22 and they postulated sorbofuranosyl and pyra-nosyl cationic intermediates. In 1955, Boggs and Smith23 postulated a fructofu-ranosyl cationic intermediate in the formation of per-O-acetyl ot-D-Fru/-1,2 2,l -p-D-Fru/[di-D-fructose anhydride I (5)] from inulin triacetate. They indicated that three adjacent P-2,l -linked fructofuranosyl units would be required for formation of the dianhydride. 

Treatment of L-sorbose with anhydrous HF80 gave rise to an analogous mixture of products a-L-Sorp-1,2 2,l - 3-L-Sorp (12), (3-L-Sor/ l,2 2,l -a-L-Sorp (13), a-L-Sorf-1,2 2,l -a-L-Sorp, a-L-Sorp-1,2 2,l -a-L-Sorp, ct-L-Soif-... 

When D-fructose and L-sorbose are refluxed with aqueous HC1, dihexulose dianhydrides are formed.91 If the water is replaced by N./V-dimethylformamide, substantially increased yields are obtained and 1,2-linked disaccharides are detected. Higher yields of dianhydrides were obtained from fructose, rather than sorbose, under comparable conditions. Treatment of levan with dilute H2S04 at 60°C yielded92 a-D-Fru/-l,2 2,1 -fi-D-Fru/(5). Presumably, any products that contain 2,6-linkages with large central rings would rapidly isomerize to the more stable 1,2-linked product. 

An alternative approach to increase the oxidation rate is the use of alkaline solutions, because bases enhance the reactivity of L-sorbose and weaken the adsorption strength of 2-KLG. Unfortunately, the rate enhancement at higher pH is accompanied by a drop in selectivity due to the poor stability of 2-KLG in alkaline solutions. To circumvent this problem, we have modified the platinum catalysts by adsorbed tertiary amines and carried out the oxidation in neutral aqueous solution [57], This allowed to enhance the rate without increasing the pH of the bulk liquid, which leads to detrimental product decomposition. Small quantities of amines (molar ratio of amine sorbose = 1 1700, and amine Pts = 0.1) are sufficient for modification. Using amines of pKa a 10 for modification, resulted in a considerable rate enhancement (up to a factor of 4.6) with only a moderate loss of selectivity to 2-KLG. The rate enhancement caused by the adsorbed amines is mainly determined by their basicity (pKa). In contrast, the selectivity of the oxidation was found to depend strongly on the structure of the amine. 

Figure 7. Effect of HMTA auxiliary. Selectivity to 2-KLG as a function of L-sorbose conversion over 5 wt% Pt/C. Unmodified catalyst ( ) catalyst modified with HMTA (O).

Nickel oxide anodes are another example for a relatively simple oxide electrocatalyst used rather widely in the oxidation of organic substances (alcohols, amines, etc.) in alkaline solutions at relatively low anodic potentials (about +0.6 V RHE). These processes, which occur at an oxidized nickel surface, are rather highly selective. As an example, we mention the industrial oxidation of diacetone-L-sorbose to the corresponding acid in vitamin C synthesis. This reaction occurs at nickel oxide electrodes with chemical yields close to 100%. 

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