Molecular Basis of Absorption at 340 nm of 3-Ketoglucosides under Alkaline Conditions

Transient absorption at 340 nm under alkaline conditions has long been used to detect the presence of 3-keto-O-glycosides without understanding the molecular basis of the absorbance. The time course of A_{340 nm} for the alkaline treatment of 3-ketolevoglucosan, an intramolecular 3-keto-O-glycoside, was investigated to identify the three products generated through alkaline treatment. By comparing the spectra of these compounds under neutral and alkaline conditions, we identified 1,5-anhydro-D-erythro-hex-1-en-3-ulose (2-hydroxy-3-keto-D-glucal) as being the compound responsible for the absorption.