Abstract
The proton magnetic resonance spectrum of branched dextran contains a peak, not found in the spectrum of linear dextran, which is assigned to C1 protons at non-1,6-linkages—linkages which in most branched dextrans form the branch points. A quantitative measure of the extent of branching—the ratio of 1,6-linkages to non-1,6-linkages—is obtained by taking the ratio of the areas of the peaks associated with these two types of linkages. The value so obtained agrees well with that obtained by periodate analysis.For polysaccharides in which the non-1,6-linkages are known to be at branch points, n.m.r. spectroscopy thus affords a means of detecting and estimating branching which is more convenient than methods currently in use.

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