Dglucose14Dglucose

Dglucose14Dglucose, also known as 1,4-anhydro-D-glucose or levoglucosan, is a disaccharide composed of two D-glucose units linked by an alpha-1,4 glycosidic bond. This specific linkage creates a cyclic structure where the anomeric carbon of one glucose unit is bonded to the hydroxyl group at the 4th carbon of the other glucose unit, with the elimination of a water molecule. It is a derivative of glucose and can be considered a type of anhydro sugar.

Levoglucosan is primarily formed during the pyrolysis of cellulose and other polysaccharides. When biomass, such as wood or agricultural waste, is heated in the absence of oxygen to high temperatures, cellulose undergoes thermal decomposition, yielding levoglucosan as a major product. This process is significant in the study of biomass combustion and char formation. It is also found in smoke and is used as a marker to identify the presence of wood smoke.

While levoglucosan itself is not a common dietary sugar, its formation is linked to the thermal processing of carbohydrates. It can be hydrolyzed back to D-glucose under acidic conditions, although this process may require relatively harsh conditions. Its chemical structure and formation pathways make it an important compound in the fields of carbohydrate chemistry, biomass utilization, and environmental science. Research has explored its potential as a platform chemical for producing various valuable compounds.