Dec., 1937
COMMUNICATIONS TO THE EDITOR
2745
methyl ester of 6-~-glucuronosido-galactosecrystallizes as rosets of needles. The melting point of the pure substance is 201-202' (uncorrected) rCrIz3D +lS-I.i' (c, 1%) (found, Br, 11.52). When the latter derivative is condensed with U. S. REGIONAL SOYBEAN W. G. BICKFORD INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS LABORATORY F. G. DOLLEAR methyl alcohol in the presence of silver oxide the K. S. MARKLEY URBANA, ILLINOIS methyl ester of hexaacetyl-G-P-glucuronosidoNOVEMBER 23, 1937 RECEIVED methylgalactoside is formed in yields of 60%. The derivative crystallizes as prismatic needles THE SYNTHESIS OF ALDOBIONIDES melting at 184' (uncorrected) [ a D]' +86.4' Sir : (C, 1%) (found, OCH, 9.96). We have certain Aldobionic acids are disaccharides containing evidence which indicates that the synthetic a uronic acid as one of the sugar constituents. methyl glycoside of the aldobionic acid derivative These sugar acids were found among the products is the a instead of the anticipated p-glycoside. of hydrolysis of the immunologically specific car- HOSPITAL OF THE ROCKEFELLERWALTHER F. GOEBEL E. REEVES INSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH RICHARD bohydrates of certain encapsulated pathogenic NEW YORK,N. Y. ROLLIND. HOTCHKISS microorganisms [M. Heidelberger and W. F. RECEIVED NOVEMBER 20, 1937 Goebel, J. Bid. Chem., 70, 613 (1926); W. F. Goebel, ibid., 74,619 (192i)l; they have since been FREE ROTATION ABOUT CARBON-CARBON BONDS obtained from various plant gums as well. The synthesis of two aldobionic acids, gentiobiuronic Sir: Montgomery, McXteer and Franke [THIS acid and the aldobionic acid of gum acacia, has JOURNAL, 59, 1768 (193i)l find for the reaction been described recently [R. D. Hotchkiss and n-CeHio i-ChHio W. F. Goebel, J . Bid. Chem., 115, 285 (1936)l. The chemical constitution of a third aldobionic an equilibrium constant of about 4.0 in the liquid acid, cellobiuronic acid obtained from the specific phase at 27'; the corresponding value for the polysaccharide of pneumococcus, Types I11 vapor phase is calculated to be 3.5. This result and VIII, have also been established [R. D. when combined with Rossini's accurate value Hotchkiss and W. F. Goebel, ibid., 121, 195 = - 1630 cal. gives A&,s = -2.08 0.55 (1937)l. e. u. The third law measurements of Parks, ShoSince it is our desire to prepare for chemo- mate, Kennedy and Crawford [J. Chcm. Phys., 5, immunological study, artificial carbohydrate- 359 (19:3i)] gave -5.8 * 1.2 e. u. Statistical protein antigens containing these three aldobionic calculations of Pitzer [ibid., 5,473 (193i)I assumacids, a method for the synthesis of aldobionides ing potential barriers of 3400-3800 cal. opposing has now been developed. The preparation of the free rotation gave -4.3 e. u., as compared with acetobromo derivatives of the methyl esters of -4.1 e. u. calculated by Kassel [ibid., 4, 276 the acacia aldobionic acid (6-p-glucuronosido- (1936)l on the basis of free rotation. Direct exgalactose) and of cellobiuronic acid (4-P-glucu- periment thus shows isobutane to be significantly ronoside-glucose) was achieved in the following more stable than is indicated by any calculation; manner. unpublished work done in this Laboratory supWhen the heptaacetyl methyl ester of cello- ports this conclusion. biuronic acid or of the acacia aldobionic acid, is A major argument against the assumption of allowed to stand in the presence of acetic acid free rotation has been the consistency with which saturated with hydrogen bromide, the a-bromo- statistical entropies based on it exceeded third hexaacetyl methyl ester of the corresponding aldo- law determinations. It now appears, however, bionic acid is in each instance formed. The de- that the difference of the third law values for the rivatives may be isolated from the reaction mix- two butanes is in error by 3.7 e. u. Modern detures in excellent yields. The a-bromohexa- terminations of this sort can only be wrong by acetyl methyl ester of 4-~-glucuronosido-glucose is failure to attain equilibrium in the crystal, and obtained as glistening needles melting a t 200' hence can only be low. The third law value for (uncorrected) [ a I z 4+99.4' ~ in CHC13 (C, 1%) isobutatie must therefore be at least 3.7 e. u. low, (foutid, Rr, 11.66). 'The a-bromnhexaacetyl and the correct value of StSN is at least 73.7 e. u.
the refractive index, a decrease in the iodine value, and a shortening of the drying time; all of which indicated a shift of the polyethenoid bonds toward a conjugated system.
