Dextran was subjected to oxidative scission by periodate, followed by ring closure with nitromethane to form nitrodextran. The nitro group attached to the ring was reduced by LiA1H4 to yield amino-polysaccharide of which the molecular weight was about 10,000. It became clear that nitrodextran consisted of 3-deoxy-3-nitro-mannopyranoside,-glucopyranoside,-galactopyranoside and-talopyranoside and their molar ratio was 6: 5: 1: 2 as determined by column chromatographic separation and gas chromatographic analysis of the methanolyzate of nitro-dextran.

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