Chemical Studies on the Reaction Products of Methylpentose and Ammonia

Part II. Formation of 4 (5)-Ethylimidazole from the Reaction of L-Rhamnose and Ammonia

抄録

Reducing sugars react in aqueous ammonia to form several imidazolic compounds. An unknown compound was newly isolated from the reaction mixture of L-rhamnose and ammonia, and identified as 4 (5)-ethylimidazole. It was found that this compound was formed in aqueous ammonia only from such reducing sugars as rhamnose, fucose etc. containing a terminal methyl group. Consequently, it was inferred that in aqueous ammonia L-rhamnose decomposes to form ethylglyoxal as an intermediate of 4 (5)-ethylimidazole.