Abstract
SOME time ago1 we found that by the action of a copper acetate solution upon ascorbic acid, a dehydro-ascorbic acid is formed, which has the formula C6H6O6, that is, it has two hydrogen atoms less than ascorbic acid. The determination of the free hydroxyl groups according to Zerewitinoff, shows for the dehydro-acid only two hydroxyls, in contrast to the original acid which gives four. One of the two hydroxyls removed by oxidation is the enolic hydroxyl, which is responsible for the reducing power of ascorbic acid.1
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P. Karrer, H. Salomon, K. Schöpp, R. Morf, Acta Helv., 16, 181; 1933. Vierteljahresschr. Züricher Naturforsch. Ges., 78, 9; 1933.
Micheel and Kraft, Z. physiol Chem., 215, 215; 1933; and NATURE, 131, 274, Feb. 25, 1933. Compare also P. Karrer, G. Schwarzenbach und Schöpp, Acta Helv., 16, 304; 1933.
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KARRER, P., SALOMON, H. & SCHOPP, K. Constitution of Dehydro-Ascorbic Acid. Nature 131, 800 (1933). https://doi.org/10.1038/131800b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/131800b0
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