I. J. Miller, J. W. Blunt
Mobility of Sulfate Ester during Structural Determinations of Red Algal Galactans
The polysaccharide from Rhodophyllis membranacea (family Cystocloniaceae) was found to be approximately 80% ?-carrageenan together with 20% of a further precursor-like entity. Alkali treatment of the initial polymer gave only ?-carrageenan. A standard methylation of this polysaccharide in NaOH/DMSO gave 95% of the product as permethylated ?-carrageenan. This desulfation was avoided by removing reducing agents with bromine water, then carrying out a preliminary methylation with aqueous NaOH/dimethyl sulfate. Alkaline desulfation was investigated using ?-carrageenan under non-aqueous alkaline conditions. Desulfation was achieved in the presence of strong reducing agents and ferric oxide, and quantitatively in the presence of dithionite or aluminium.
Botanica Marina, Walter de Gruyter
Print ISSN: 0006-8055
Volume: 45, 11/2002
Pages: 559 - 565
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