Stachyose properties

On realizing the similarity of his manneotetrose to stachyose, Tanret undertook15 the preparation of stachyose from Stachys tuberifera, in order to compare the properties of the two materials. 

Methylation of stachyose and subsequent hydrolysis, by Onuki,20 gave 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-methyl-D-galactose (identified as the crystalline anilide), a tri-O-methyl-D-galactose and a tri-O-methyl-D-glucose (which were converted into the 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-methyl derivatives, and characterized as the crystalline anilides), and 1,3,4,6-tetra-O-methyl-D-fructose, a sirup which agreed in properties with the authentic material. 

It should be pointed out that Khouri reported,100 in 1910, the isolation of crystalline stachyose from the rhizomes of Eremostachys laciniata. Moreover, the partial structure suggested by Strepkov for labiose is hardly compatible with its lack of fermentability. Further work needs to be done on labiose, to make certain whether it is different from the known oligosaccharides having about this same rotation and similar properties (stachyose, planteose) and, if it is different, to obtain more exact structural details. 

Deak, N.A. L.A. Johnson. Functional properties of soy protein ingredients prepared from high-sucrose/low-stachyose soybeans./. Am. Oil Chem. Soc. 2006, 83, 811-818. 

A tetrasaccharide composed of two molecules of galactose and one molecule of fructose and glucose. It occurs in many beans, beets, peas, soybeans, and tubers. Since the intestinal tract does not produce enzymes able to split stachyose, bacteria in the intestine act on it— forming gas. Hence, it is believed to be responsible for the gas-producing properties of beans. (Also see BEAN [S], COMMON, section headed "Dried Beans.")... 

Sugar esters can also be made by nonenzymatic methods. In a systematic investigation of the effect of the number of condensed hexose units on surfactant properties, monododecyl esters of glucose, sucrose (2 sugar units), raffinose (3 units) and stachyose (4 units) were prepared by organic synthesis... 

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