Formose Reactions. III. Evaluation of Various Factors Affecting the Formose Reaction

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
By an analytical method using oxidation-reduction potential measurements of the formose reaction, which were previously shown to be useful for separately analyzing the induction and the formose-forming steps, the influence of various factors on each step and on the sugar yield were examined. It was found for the batchsystem formose reaction that the rate of both steps and the sugar yield are affected by the concentration of formaldehyde, the amount of calcium hydroxide, and also by the ratio of the two. The dissolved calcium ion is believed to be an essential catalyst for either the induction or the formose-forming step, with the hydroxy anion playing significant role as the catalyst for the latter step. The optimum conditions necessary for obtaining the sugars in high yields are discussed.