MODEL-COMPOUND STUDIES ON THE CLEAVAGE OF GLYCOSIDIC BONDS BY OZONE IN AQUEOUS-SOLUTION

Kinetic expressions have been developed for the initial phase of the r eactions between ozone and methyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside, a model comp ound for cellulose, in aqueous solutions at moderately low pH (pH 3) a nd ambient temperature. Ozone is reasonably stable under these conditi ons. The reaction is first order in the glucoside and ozone, second or der overall. Kinetic and analytical data suggest that the glucoside is directly attacked by ozone to form polyoxide intermediates. The alpha -glucoside was more stable and was attacked by ozone exclusively at th e acetal oxygen in the initial phase of the reaction. In contrast, the beta-anomer was ozonized nearly twice as fast, and was attacked by oz one mainly at the C-H bond of the anomeric carbon. The latter reaction resulted in the formation of delta-gluconolactone, probably by way of a hydrotrioxide intermediate. The fragmentation of the intermediate c ould be assisted by properly oriented non-bonding orbitals of the two acetal oxygens. These stereoelectronic rules were previously proposed by Deslongchamp and coworkers on the ozonolysis of acetals in non-aque ous media. The activation energy for the reaction was 69.5 kJ/mole in both acetic and sulfuric acid solutions at pH 3. The presence of trans ition metal-ion, in particular Co(II) and Fe(II) ions, resulted in enh ancement of both ozone decomposition and degradation of the glycoside, apparently caused by free radical reactions. In some cases, addition of acetic acid led to substantial suppression of the degradation of th e glucoside.