L-sorbitol, CAS No. 87-79-6

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87-79-6

Catalog No. EBD2205177

CAS 87-79-6

Name L-sorbitol

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Basic Information

Synonyms: L-sorbitol L-Sorbose AI3-19425 Esorben HSDB780 L-1,2,3,4,5,6-Pentahydroxyhexan-2-one L-1,3,4,5,6-Pentahydroxyhexan-2-one L-Sorbinose L-xylo-2-Hexulose NSC97195 Sorbin Sorbinose Sorbose,L- L-sorbopyranose alpha-L-sorbopyranose

Molecular Formula: C6H12O6

Molecular Weight: 180.16

MDL Number: MFCD00151097

Categories: Medicinal Chemistry > Biochemicals and Life Science Reagents > Saccharides, Nucleosides, and Nucleotides Synthetic Chemistry > Organic Building Blocks > Other Organic Building Blocks

Product Description:

L-Sorbose is a ketohexose sugar, specifically a stereoisomer of fructose. It is a white, crystalline powder that is soluble in water and has a sweet taste. Structurally, it is the C-5 epimer of D-fructose and serves as a key intermediate in the industrial synthesis of vitamin C (ascorbic acid). The primary and most significant application of L-sorbose is in the Reichstein-Grüssner process for the commercial production of ascorbic acid. In this process, D-sorbitol is first microbially oxidized to L-sorbose using *Acetobacter suboxydans*. L-Sorbose is then chemically converted to 2-keto-L-gulonic acid, the direct precursor to ascorbic acid. This makes it a crucial biochemical and life science reagent in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries. Beyond its role in vitamin C synthesis, L-sorbose finds use as a low-calorie sweetener in some dietary applications and serves as a starting material or chiral building block in organic synthesis for the preparation of other rare sugars and biologically active compounds. It is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for specific food uses.

Physical Properties

Melting Point: 163-165 °C

Boiling Point: 551.7 °C at 760 mmHg

Flash Point: 301.5 °C

Density: 1.589 g/cm3

Solubility: H2O: 0.1 g/mL, clear, colorless to very faintly yellow

Refractivity: -43 ° (C=1, H2O)

Analytical Data

Appearance: White to off-white crystalline powder or crystals