Reaction of Xylose and Glycine: Identification of the Major Water Soluble Component

The reaction of equimolar amounts of D-xylose and glycine in D₂O at 68°C resulted in the formation of a twelve carbon compound, as a major product. No intermediate was detected in the formation of this dimer. The eneaminol, formed on reaction of 0.1 molar D-xylose and glycine in H₂O, after six weeks was isolated and purified. Based on ¹H and ¹³C NMR, spin echo Fourier transform experiments, and other spectroscopic techniques including FAB-MS and CI-MS of TMS derivative, the structure: N, N1-deoxy-D-threo-pent-2-enitol, 1′-deoxy-β-D-threo-pentose (2′,5′)] glycine, was assigned to the product.