Xylitol as a chemical compound

Abstract

The crystalline xylitol prepared by Wolfrom and Kohn [3] in 1942 was a hygroscopic and metastable product with a melting point of 61–61.5 °C. The product was formed during prolonged standing of xylitol syrup in an ice box. From this form of xylitol Carson et al. [4] separated approximately 1 year later a stable anhydrous xylitol which was more suitable for chemical and biological studies than the earlier product. The product of Carson et al. [4] was finally recrystallized from ether (methanol and ethanol were also suitable) as colorless crystals with a melting point of 93–94.5 °C. The low-melting monoclinic form usually changes in a few days into the high-melting rhombic form on exposure to the air at room temperature. The crystallization of the low-melting metastable form is easily achieved from alcoholic solution when lath-shaped crystals with oblique ends result. An aqueous viscous syrup also yields complete large crystals on standing several weeks at room temperature.