Abstract
At the onset of this paper, it seems to be essential and significant to briefly trace the history of the isopropylidene sugars and ascertain the position attained by this branch of carbohydrate chemistry since the close of the nineteenth century when Emil Fischer made his first contribution in this area. | This research does not actually deal with a detailed study of the isopropylidene derivatives of the pentoses and hexoses. One of these, diacetone glucose, has merely been employed as a starting material for the sugar polymerization. It is quite evident then, that in the introductory remarks reference will be made particularly to this derivative. | Monosaccharides and certain of their derivatives react with carbonyl compounds under the influence of acidic catalysts to form acetals or ketals, the most important reaction products being the acetone sugars. In most instances condensation takes place between the acetone and cis hydroxyl groups on contiguous carbon atoms in such a manner as to favor the introduction of the isopropylidene residues into the molecule.