Abstract
2- (D-arabino-1', 2', 3', 4-Tetrahydroxybutyl) -5- (D-erythro-2'', 3'', 4''- trihydroxy-butyl) pyrazine (“Deoxyfructosazine”) and 2- (D-arabino-1', 2', 3', 4'-tetrahydroxybutyl) -6- (D-erythro-2'', 3'', 4''-trihydroxybutyl) pyrazine (6-isomer) have been isolated from the browning mixture of fructose and ammonium formate. Especially, deoxyfructosazine was obtained in a considerable high yield, but its 6-isomer was formed only in a very low yield. In the reaction of glucose and ammonium formate, on the contrary, the 6-isomer was predominantly formed. Formation of these compounds was also dependent on the concentration of ammonium formate, and under appropriate conditions the yields of these compounds amounted to 0.38_??_0.42g per g of the original sugars.
