Polysaccharide Chemistry

Modem Methodology of Structural Polysaccharide Chemistry, M. Stacey, Chem. Br., 6 (1970) 113-118. 

Whistler, R. L. Smart, C. L. Polysaccharide Chemistry Academic Press New York, 1953. 

In examining the structure of a polysaccharide, it is convenient to consider the methods involved under the three main headings (a) quantitative analysis, (b) methylation, and (c) periodate oxidation. These techniques may be supplemented by partial or enzymic hydrolysis as the circumstances indicate. Each of these aspects of polysaccharide chemistry may be aided by the application of gas-liquid chromatography, either qualitative or quantitative, or both. Thus, separations impossible by other techniques may often be achieved, and analytical data obtained in a fraction of the time demanded by other methods. 

Only a few methods for the specific degradation of polysaccharides were known when an earlier article on structural polysaccharide chemistry appeared in this Series.3 The Smith degradation,4 which has become the most frequently used, had only just been introduced. Since then, a number of specific degradation techniques have been developed. In addition, there have also been some modifications and improvements to existing methods. In this article, chemical methods for specific or selective degradation of polysaccharides, and their applications in structural analysis, will be discussed. Enzymic methods, which may be of considerable value, have already been treated in this Series.5... 

On esterification, the carboxyl group in uronic acid residues becomes a carboxylate that is electron-withdrawing, and, on subsequent treatment with base, / -elimination will occur. The p-elimination reaction for uronic acids and their derivatives has been reviewed in this Series, 6 and only its applications to structural polysaccharide chemistry will be discussed here. 

However, two other applications of mass spectrometry to carbohydrate chemistry seem the most important and promising. These are the identification of partially methylated monosaccharides, and structural analysis of di- and oligo-saccharides (and penetration of this new technique into polysaccharide chemistry). 

Gluconacetobacter xylinus to optimize cellulose formation on the laboratory-scale [12]. As a result of systematic and comprehensive research over the last 10-15 years, broad knowledge of the formation and structure of BC has been acquired. This work is an important part of the integration of biotechnological methods into polysaccharide chemistry and the development of cellulose products with new properties and application potential. 

Ken s geographical transition to the New World was accompanied by a concomitant transition in his research emphasis. Although he maintained an interest in polysaccharide chemistry, the publication record from Queen s University attests to the universality of his interests in carbohydrate chemistry. J. K. made major contributions to synthetic carbohydrate chemistry, stereochemistry, biosynthetic mechanisms, and metabolism of carbohydrates, and the application of such separational techniques as paper and gas-liquid chromatography in the carbohydrate field. The results of his lifetime of research were documented in over 300 scientific publications. Clearly, it would be impractical to review this number of papers individually, and consequently, only a representative sample will be treated. A list of Professor Jones s publications is appended to this article. 

Recent Progress in Polysaccharide Chemistry, J. K. N. Jones, An. Assoc. Bras. Quim., Numero Expec., 21 (1962) 41-55. 

Methods in Structural Polysaccharide Chemistry, 15, 53-89 Brady, Robert F., Jr., Cyclic Acetals of Ketoses, 26, 197-278 Bray, H. G., D-Glucuronic Acid in Metabolism, 8, 251-275... 

That same year, Percival was appointed to a lectureship at the University of Edinburgh, where Kempson started research with him on the synthesis and reactions of carbohydrates, for which she received a Ph.D. in 1941. With the founding of the Scottish Seaweed Research Association, their interest turned to marine polysaccharides. Percival died in 1951 and Kempson took over the research, being appointed Lecturer, while raising two children. For her contributions to polysaccharide chemistry, she was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. 

The last decade has seen a very considerable development of polysaccharide chemistry. This has been essentially due to the introduction of chromatographic methods, although several other techniques have also contributed. 

The present article is a review of the newer methods used in polysaccharide chemistry. The selection of material and especially of references... 

The methylation technique is of outstanding importance in structural polysaccharide chemistry. The procedure involves the preparation of the exhaustively methylated polysaccharide, hydrolysis to a mixture of monomers, and the separation, identification, and quantitative estimation of the components of this mixture the original points of substitution wiU correspond to the unsubstituted hydroxyl groups in these monomeric methyl ethers. Although laborious and time-consuming, the method gives valuable... 

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