DEHYDROASCORBIC ACID UNDERGOES HYDROLYSIS ON SOLUBILIZATION WHICH CANBE REVERSED WITH MERCAPTOETHANOL

Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, we have examined the effec t of solubilization, cupric sulfate oxidation and mercaptoethanol redu ction of dehydroascorbic acid. During solubilization, dehydroascorbic acid spontaneously hydrolyzed the lactone ring. The reduction of the d ehydroascorbic acid hydrolysis product using mercaptoethanol resulted in the formation of ascorbic acid, suggesting that sulfhydryls are abl e to effect ring closure of the dehydroascorbic acid hydrolysis produc t. These data suggest that studies of dehydroascorbic acid should be i nterpreted with caution, since properties attributed to dehydroascorbi c acid may actually be due to another chemical species.