Production of polycondensate of glucose and/or maltose and polyhydric alcohol

PURPOSE: To efficiently obtain the subject polycondensate useful as a nutrition extender by effecting reaction in the presence of ascorbic acid at the time polycondensation of glucose, maltose and a polyhydric alcohol such as sorbitol. CONSTITUTION: (A) Glycose and/or maltose and (B) a non-branched polyhydric alcohol (more adequately sorbitol) which has 3-6C and in which one C atom can be have a O-galactopyranosyl or O-glucopyranosyl and the remaining C atoms can have hydroxyl or all of the C atoms have the hydroxyl are subjected to polycondensation in the presence of the ascorbic acid. This reaction is preferably executed under a pressure of ≤100 millibar under the mild flow of nitrogen. The reaction temp. is preferably 140 to 160°C when the reaction is executed batchwise and is preferably 170 to 220°C when the reaction is executed continuously. COPYRIGHT: (C)1993,JPO