Saccharide polymers, 1, Synthesis and polymerization of methyl 5‐deoxy‐2,3‐O‐iso‐propylidene‐ß‐ D ‐erythro‐pent‐4‐enofuranoside

New “saccharide polymers” were synthesized. For this purpose the synthesis and the polymerization of an unsaturated sugar monomer, methyl 5‐deoxy‐2,3‐O‐isopropylidene‐ß‐D‐erythro‐pent‐4‐enofuranoside, briefly called “exo‐ribene”, is described. All polymers, homo‐and co‐polymers, were synthesized under free radical conditions. The structures and compositions of the soluble “saccharide polymers” were established by elemental analysis, 1H and 13C NMR, and FT‐IR spectroscopy. Some characteristics e. g. molecular weights and optical rotations are reported. Depending on the comonomer reactivity and under optimized chain reaction conditions, saccharide polymers with various sugar content and high molecular weights have been obtained.