Beiträge zur Frage der Zuckerwirkung im Organismus. I. Mitteilung: Über Zuckerspaltung unter der Wirkung stark verdünnten Alkalis.

Abstract

When glucose was distilled a short time with a small amount of alkali, methylglyoxal was found in the distillate. The yield of methylglyoxal was considerably increased by the addition of Na2SO3. Under these conditions all reducing sugars produced methylglyoxal. The best action was obtained with M/50-M/25 Na2CO3. Higher concentrations of alkali lowered the yield. Even M/1500 Na2CO3 gave methylglyoxal. Distillations with acid of corresponding concentration were without action. Sucrose, starch, mannite, dulcite and sorbite were not split, hence the point of attack of the OH ion was at the free aldehyde or ketone group of the sugar. The methylglyoxal was determined by conversion to iodo- form. The average yield of methylglyoxal was 7.5% of the glucose taken. The experiments indicate that glucose first splits into chains of 3 C atoms. This is biologically suggestive of a like action in the animal body.