Determination of molecular weights of dextrans by means of alkaline copper reagents

R educing values were determined for samples of clinical dextrans, gentiobiose, and isomaltose with several alkaline copper reagents. The res ults for t he dextrans were converted to n umber-average molecular weights on the assumption th a t eq uimolecular quantities of dextran , isomaltose, and gentiobiose have approximately the same reducing power . The molecular weights, t hus obtained , are in fair agreement with values obtained by ~he recently developed radioactive cyanide method . The results show that copper-r.edu cmg methods are s uitable for t h e determination of the number-average molecular weIg hts of clinical dextrans .