Synthesis of d - and l -Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)

IN a preliminary communication1 we reported that by treatment of osones with hydrocyanic acid, succeeded by hydrolysis, we obtained products which possessed the strong reducing power of ascorbic acid. Starting from d-xyloson we were able to isolate a small amount of the reducing substance as the crystallised acetone derivative. From the melting point, analysis and iodine-titration, we considered the substance to be the acetone derivative of d-ascorbic acid.