Non-catalytic synthesis of Chromogen I and III from N-acetyl-d-glucosamine in high-temperature water

Non-catalytic synthesis of 2-acetamido-2,3-dideoxy-D-erythro-hex-2-enofuranose (Chromogen I) and 3-acetamido-5-(1′,2′-dihydroxyethyl)furan (Chromogen III) from N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc) was achieved, with the highest yields of 23.0% and 23.1%, respectively, in high-temperature water at 120–220 °C and 25 MPa with a reaction time of 7–39 s.