By periodic oxidation of α-methyl-D-glycopyranoside, D′-methoxy-D-hydroxymethyldiglycolic aldehyde p-nitrophenylhydrazone, m.p. 125° (decomp.), is obtaind. This hydrazone is decomposed in acid solution to glyoxal p-nitrophenylosazone, free glyoxal, glyceraldehyde and methanol.
