The Structure of the Degraded Hualtaco Gum

Abstract

Autohydrolysis of purified and fractionated hualtaco gum yielded a degraded product. The degraded gum, fully methylated, gave on hydrolysis 2,3,4-tri-O-methyl-L-rhamnose (2 eqniv.), 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-methyl-D-galactose (1 equiv.), 2,4,6-tri-O-methyl-D-galactose (1 equiv.), and 2,4-di-O-methyl-D-galaotose (6 eqniv.). The methyl aldobiouronic acid was characterized as 6-O -(2,3,4-tri-O-methyl-D- glucuronopyranosyl)-2,3,4-tri- O -methyl-D-galactopanose. From the results of periodate oxidation and Smith degradation studies carried out on the degraded gum, a structure was assigned to its repeating unit.