D - -Xylose

Of the eight stereoisomeric aldopentoses Figure 25 2 shows the Fischer projections of the d enantiomers (d ribose d arabinose d xylose and D lyxose) Likewise Figure 25 2 gives the Fischer projections of the eight D aldohexoses... 

Refer to the Fischer projection of d (+) xylose in Figure 25 2 (Section 25 4) and give struc tural formulas for... 

Gum ghatti is the calcium and magnesium salt of a complex polysaccharide which contains L-arabinose, D-galactose, D-mannose, and D-xylose and D-glucuronic acid (48) and has a molecular weight of approximately 12,000. On dispersion in water, gum ghatti forms viscous solutions of viscosity intermediate between those of gum arabic and gum karaya. These dispersions have emulsification and adhesive properties equivalent to or superior to those described for gum arabic. 

Xyhtol is synthesized by reduction of D-xylose catalyticahy (40), electrolyticahy (41), and by sodium amalgam (42). D-Xylose is obtained by hydrolysis of xylan and other hemiceUulosic substances obtained from such sources as wood, com cobs (43), almond shells, hazelnuts, or oHve waste (44). Isolation of xylose is not necessary xyhtol results from hydrogenation of the solution obtained by acid hydrolysis of cottonseed hulls (45). 

Reduction. Mono- and oligosaccharides can be reduced to polyols (polyhydroxy alcohols) termed alditols (glycitols) (1) (see Sugar alcohols). Common examples of compounds in this class ate D-glucitol (sorbitol) [50-70-4] made by reduction of D-glucose and xyhtol [87-99-0] made from D-xylose. Glycerol [56-87-5] is also an alditol. Reduction of D-fmctose produces a mixture of D-glucitol and D-mannitol [69-65-8],... 

Carrel, H.L., et al. X-ray structure of D-xylose isomerase from Streptomyces nibiginosus at 4 A resolution. 

Among the aldopentoses, D-ribose is a component of many biologically important substances, most notably the ribonucleic acids, and D-xylose is very abundant and is isolated by hydrolysis of the polysaccharides present in corncobs and the wood of trees. 

Generally speaking, the phosphorylated deoxysugars undergo the usual reactions of carbohydrates without complication. For instance, both 2-deoxy D-ribose 5-phosphate (52, 59) and 2-deoxy D-xylose 5-phosphate (2) can be reduced to the corresponding 2-deoxy d-erythro- (48) and 2-deoxy D-threo-pentitol 5-phosphates (49). 2-deoxy ribose 5-phosphate has also been oxidized (52) to the corresponding phosphorylated acid (50). 

Aldopentoses have three chirality centers and a total of 23 = 8 possible stereoisomers, or four d,l pairs of enantiomers. These four pairs are called ribose, arabinose, xylose, and lyxose. All except lyxose occur widely. r>Ribose is an important constituent of RNA (ribonucleic acid), t-arabinose is found in many plants, and D-xylose is found in wood. 

---