Methylation analysis of glucosaminitol and glucosaminyl-glucosaminitol disaccharides. Formation of 2-deoxy-2-(N-acetylacetamido)-glucitol derivatives.

N-Acetylglucosaminitol, N-acetylglucosaminyl-beta 1',4-N-acetylglucosaminitol (chitobiitol), the corresponding trimer (chitotriitol) and N-acetylgucosaminyl-beta 1'6-N-acetylglucosaminitol were subjected to methylation analysis using combined gas-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. The preparation were subjected to permethylation according to Hakomori, followed by acid hydrolysis, reduction and peracetylation. From N-acetylglucosaminitol and its 4-0 and 6-0 substituted derivatives, methylated N-acetylacetamido derivatives were obtained. The possible conditions for the formation of these products are discussed.