Oxidation of D-Glucose and D-Mannose

Abstract

The study of monosaccharides has been around and researched since the 1800’s. In this experiment, D-glucose will undergo benchtop oxidation using nitric acid and heat to produce gluconic acid and glucaric acid. The same oxidation process will then be done using D-mannose. The resulting aldonic and aldaric acids of each compound will then be compared to determine if stereochemistry effects the ease at which an aldohexose can be oxidized at C-1 and C-6.