Solvolytic desulfation of glycosaminoglycuronan sulfates with dimethyl sulfoxide containing water or methanol.

A solvolytic desulfation of glycosaminoglycuronan sulfates was developed by treatment of their pyridinium salts with dimethyl sulfoxide containing 10% of water or methanol at 80-100 degrees. Chemical and physical studies showed that the solvolytic desulfation is a useful method applicable to all the known glycosaminoglycuronan sulfates without producing depolymerization or unfavorable chemical changes in the polysaccharide molecules. An almost completely desulfated, N-acetylated heparin (S: 0.12%) was obtained by treatment of an N-desulfated and N-acetylated heparin with dimethyl sulfoxide containing 10% of methanol for 2 h at 100 degrees.