Synthesis of Polyoxamic Acid (2-Amino-2-deoxy-l-xylonic Acid

The rate of precipitation of the retrograded amylose product from a dil. amylose solution was determined by the centrifugal method. The results showed that the relation of the quantity of precipitate vs. time did not fit the typical second order reaction for the coalescence of colloidal particles but fitted the crystallization formula, in appearance.

The rate of precipitation was in proportion to (c-c_a)^1.5, where c is the amylose concentration and c_a the concentration of the dil. solution phase in the phase-separated solution. When the temperature dependence of the rate was treated according to the crystallization of polymers, it was found that the rate was in proportion to T_m²/T(ΔT)², where T_m is the melting point of the polymer in solution and ΔT is (T_m?T). The T_m thus obtained was 120°C for an amylose solution. These results suggested a certain correlation between the amylose retrogradation and the crystallization.