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Microcomputer‐automated reactor for synthesis of 13 C‐labeled Monosaccharides
Author(s) -
Stafford Ulick,
Serianni Anthony S.,
Varma Arvind
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
aiche journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.958
H-Index - 167
eISSN - 1547-5905
pISSN - 0001-1541
DOI - 10.1002/aic.690361206
Subject(s) - formic acid , monosaccharide , chemistry , hydrogen cyanide , microcomputer , cyanohydrin , chromatography , organic chemistry , catalysis , computer science , telecommunications , chip
For less labor‐intensive, larger‐scale, and more efficient production of D‐[1‐ 13 C] glucose and other labeled monosaccharides using the cyanohydrin reduction reaction, an automated reactor was designed, constructed, and tested. A suitable vessel and all ancillary and control equipment were fabricated, or otherwise obtained, and the apparatus was controlled with a microcomputer program written in BASIC. Running without manual intervention, the yields for the condensation reaction of D‐arabinose with KCN and the recovery of the excess cyanide were high (>90%), and the resultant aldononitriles were reduced to product aldoses with little reduction of the intermediate imines to amines. The reduction rate could be improved by controlling pH between 2–4 and by agitation speeds >250 rpm, while no improvement resulted from the use of high hydrogen pressures [> 129 kPa (4 psig)]. Reduction reactions conducted in the presence of formic acid (to regulate pH) suggest that formic acid acted as a coreducing agent.