Messrs Morrell and Crofts, Modes of Formation of Osones. 115 



Modes of Formation of Osones. By R. S. Morrell, M.A., 

 Cains College, and J. M. Crofts, M.A., Emmanuel College. 



[Received 23 March 1903.] 



Hexahydric alcohols of the general formula 



CH 2 OH . (CHOH) 4 CH 2 OH, 



admit of oxidation to give aldehyde alcohols, one of the terminal 

 CH 2 OH groups being oxidised to the aldehyde grouping. Several 

 methods of oxidation have been used to bring about this change. 

 The action of bromine and caustic soda on dulcitol gives rise to an 

 aldehyde alcohol whose osazone is probably identical with galac- 

 tosazone [E. Fischer, Ber. xx. 3390]. Hydrogen peroxide and 

 ferrous sulphate acting on mannitol will transform the hexahydric 

 alcohol into mannose [Fenton and Jackson, J.C.S. LXXV. 9]. If 

 the hexose group of aldoses is represented by the general formula 



CHO(CHOH) 4 CH 2 OH or CHOH . (CHOH) 2 CH CHOHCH 2 OH, 



L Q _J 



the products of further oxidation of these aldoses may be mono- 

 basic or dibasic acids. Glucose may yield gluconic acid 



COOH(CHOH) 4 CH 2 OH, 



which on further oxidation can be transformed into d saccharic 

 acid, COOH(CHOH) 4 COOH. The oxidation may however pro- 

 ceed in another direction, the (CHOH) grouping adjacent to the 

 aldehyde grouping in the aldoses or the primary alcoholic group 

 adjacent to the ketone group in the ketoses may be oxidised. 



[Morrell and Crofts, J.C.S. lxxv. 716.] 



Evidence in favour of the oxidation proceeding in this direc- 

 tion is not new. The action of phenylhydrazine on carbohydrates 



8—2 



