3694. l-Erythrulose

Nomenclature

CAS number: 533-50-6
(3S)-1,3,4-Trihydroxy-2-butanone; l-glycero-tetrulose.
C4H8O4; mol wt 120.10.
C 40.00%, H 6.71%, O 53.29%.

Description and references

Prepn by bacterial oxidation of meso-erythritol: Müller et al., Helv. Chim. Acta 20, 1468 (1937); Whistler, Underk"ofler, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 60, 2507 (1937). Synthesis from d-fructose: Gorin et al., J. Chem. Soc. 1955, 2699.

Chemical structure

Properties

Syrup. [α]D18 +11.4° (c = 2.4 in water). Very sensitive to alkali. Soluble in water, abs alc.

Derivative

Phenylosazone.
C16H18N4O2; mol wt 298.34.
C 64.41%, H 6.08%, N 18.78%, O 10.73%.

Properties

Crystals from aq ethanol, mp 162°. [α]D +32° (10 min) → 0° (24 hr, constant) (c = 0.75 in pyridine + ethanol, 3:2 v/v).