Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of Klebsiella capsular polysaccharides.

The presence of acetate and pyruvate groups in Klebsiella capsular polysaccharides may be demonstrated and estimated quantitatively by running the proton magnetic resonance spectrum of the polysaccharide (as sodium salt) in deuterium oxide at 95 C. Such spectra also permit an assessment to be made of the number of alpha- and beta-linkages in the repeat unit of the polysaccharide structure.