THIN LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHY OF CARBOHYDRATE ACETATES

Abstract

Thin layer chromatography on silica gel G with benzene–methanol mixtures is a rapid method for the analytical or semimicro preparative separation of low molecular weight carbohydrate acetates. Some mixtures of inositol acetates are also resolved by the same procedure. A sensitive spray reagent has been developed for the analytical detection of acetates on the chromatographic plates and is based on the formation of the ferric hydroxamate of acetic acid. Oligosaccharide acetates are easily detected on a semimicro preparative scale by spraying the chromatographic plates with water, a general, non-destructive method for detection of hydrophobic compounds. The chromatograms can be run in 40 minutes and multiple development can be carried out to improve resolution when necessary.