Hydrogenation of 4-deoxy-beta-L-threo-hex-4-enopyranosyluronic acid sodiumsalt attached to xylodiose or xylotriose

A sodium salt of 4-deoxy-beta -L-threo-hex-4-enopyranosyluronic acid 1 atta ched to xylodiose or xylotriose is hydrogenated for the first time. Moreove r, the double bond of 4-deoxy-beta -L-threo-hex-4-enopyranosyluronic acid s odium salt 1 can be reduced by hydrogenation in water without removing the allylic hydroxyl group. Highly active homogeneous catalysts and heterogeneo us catalysts were tested and only palladium or platinum on charcoal catalys ts were found to be active in this case. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. AH rights reserved.