L-Xylose

L-Xylose [609-06-3] is a rare monosaccharide of the aldopentose type first isolated from wood, and named for it (ancient greek: ξύλον, xylon, "wood"). It is a white crystalline solid with the melting point of 144-145 °C.^[1] L-Xylose can be prepared by chemical route from D-gluconolactone ^[2] or from D-sorbitol.^[3],^[4] Enzymatic isomerization of the ketosugar L-xylulose to L-xylose has been presented as an alternative for low yields chemical synthesis. The starting material, L-xylulose can be produced by oxidation of the relatively cheap polyol, xylitol, using natural bacterial isolates as whole cell catalysts.^[5]

Application of Furoin:

L-xylose is used in organic synthesis as a chiral building block. It was used for the synthesis of L-ascorbic acid.^[6]  Novel L-xylose derivatives have recently been reported to act as inhibitors of urinary glucose reabsorption, which suggests that they may find use in diabetes treatment.^[7] Polyhydroxypyrrolidines derived from l-xylose have shown antitumor and anti-HIV properties and act as potent α- and β-glucosidase inhibitors, which also is of relevance for the development of diabetes drugs.^[8]

Product categorization (Chemical groups):

Main category:

• Alcohols / Phenols / Hydroxy compounds
• Sugar detivatives

Second level:

• Aliphatic compounds

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