Uses
L-(+)-Arabinose is used to identify and differentiate and characterize pentose sugar isomerase. It is also used as the carbon source in microbial culture. It is involved in the bioproduction of L-ribose. It finds application in the production of savory reaction flavors. Its derivatives are used in the development of antiviral agents such as nucleoside. It acts as a base component of hemicellulose and pectin.
Purification Methods
beta-L-(+)-Arabinose is recrystallised slowly, twice, from 80% aqueous EtOH, then dried under vacuum over P2O5. It can also be purified by heating the arabinose (200g) with glacial acetic acid (300mL) on a boiling water bath for 45minutes, cooling, filtering, washing with 95% EtOH (500mL) in four portions and drying at 56-60o over P2O5. It has been recrystallised from 5times its weight of 76% EtOH using charcoal (10g) to yield 127g, m 155-157o, [] 20D +190.6o and mutarotating to +104o (c 4, H2O). [Anderson & Sands Org Synth Coll Vol I 67 1941, Wolfrom & Christian J Am Chem Soc 48 3172 1926, Beilstein 1 IV 4217.]
