The treatment of the calcium salt of D-isosaccharinic acid with hydrog
en peroxide in the presence of ferric ions gave rise to 3-deoxy-D-glyc
ero-2-pentulose, the structure of which was proved by both H-1 and C-1
3 NMR spectroscopy. The results are in an agreement with those obtaine
d ninety years ago by the author of the method of shortening the carbo
n chain of aldoses, and offer another proof, that its intermediate is
not a 2-ketoaldonic acid.