Chapter 25: Carbohydrates

Oxidation of Carbohydrates
 

aldehyde                                                                carboxylate

red precipitate

Summary

• As we have already seen carbohydrate C=O can be are oxidised to carboxylic acids.
• Such carbohydrates are classified as reducing sugars based on Benedicts or Fehlings tests
• Remember that aldehydes (and hence aldoses) are readily oxidised (review ?)
• In order for oxidation to occur, the cyclic form must first ring-open to give the reactive aldehyde.
• Ketoses can also be reducing sugars because they can tautomerisation to aldoses via an enediol (review ?)

• Oxidation of Aldehdyes

© Dr. Ian Hunt, Department of Chemistry