Glyceritol periodate oxidation

Recently, Putman and Hassid have confirmed93 the structural formula given by Colin and Gueguen. Methylation of floridoside, followed by hydrolysis, gave 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-methyl-D-galactose and 1,3-di-O-methyl-glyceritol (identified by its lack of optical rotation, and by mixed melting point of its p-nitrobenzoate with the authentic ester). Periodate-oxidation studies on floridoside also confirmed the earlier formula. 

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