( 270 ) 
hexites were recognised in the from of the benzal-!) and formal- 
derivatives. 
Both d- and J-sorbite have been prepared from the benzaleompounds 
and obtained in the crystalline form. 
Crystalline methyl-/-sorbinoside was prepared by E. FiscuEr’s 
method from /-sorbinose; its specifie rotation is equal and opposite 
to that of the known methyl-d-sorbinoside (88°.5). 2) 
The results obtained, including the production of idite along with 
sorbite by reduction and the identity of /-sorbinosazone with /-gulo- 
sazone enable us to give the two sorbinoses the following config- 
urations : 
CH.OH CH,OH 
| | 
CO CO 
| | 
HOCH : HCOH 
d-sorbinose : | and /-sorbinose : 
HCOH HOCH 
| | 
HOCH HCOH 
| | 
CH,OH CH,OH 
The formation of /-sorbinose from d-galactose under the influence 
of alkalis is an example of a direct transition from the dulcite series 
of the hexoses to the mannite series. This can be best represented by 
assuming the intermediate formation of d-tagatose; the OH and H 
attached to the third carbon atom must then change places in the 
transformation 
OCH CH.OH CH,OH 
ne a be 
a el ey ay ae 
oa <a oe 
Ve Zan tA 
hae Ode tebe 
d-galactose d-tagatose 1-sorbinose 
1) Recueil 18, 150. A tribenzalsorbite was obtained as well as the mono- and di- 
benzalsorbites. 
2) E. Fiscuer, Ber. 28, 1159. 
