Partial methylation of methyl glycosides: A source of samples for analysis of methylation of carbohydrate-containing compounds

Methyl ether mixtures were obtained by partial methylation of 15 methyl glycopyranosides using Purdie's procedure. Identification of ethers as acetates by gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (glc-ms) techniques allowed us to assume them to be sample sources for methylation analysis. T-values were tabulated using a scale ranging from permethyl ether- (0) to peracetate methyl glycosides (100) for subsequent identification with the aid of glc in NPGS and QF-1 liquid phases. A scheme has been devised for isolating individual methyl ethers by preparative glc.