[Biosynthesis of bacterial cellulose from glucose selectively deuterated in position 6: NMR study]

D-glucose specifically deuterated at C-6 was prepared and used for the biosynthesis of bacterial cellulose with Acetobacter xylinum. The material obtained was converted into glucitol hexaacetate and analyzed by 250 MHz n.m.r. and mass spectrometry. These spectra indicated that about 70% of the starting D-glucose was incorporated without modification of deuteriation at the C-6 position. However an explanation is required of the finding that deuterium was also incorporated at the C-2 and C-1 positions of the cellulose, arising respectively from the 6 pro-R and 6 pro-S positions of the initial D-glucose.