N-ACETYLMURAMIC ACID [2-ACETAMIDO-3-O-(D-1-CARBOXYETHYL)-2-DEOXY-D-GLUCOSE]

N-Acetylmuramic acid was prepared by the direct acetylation of muramic acid with acetic anhydride in aqueous methanol and by acid hydrolysis of methyl 2-acetamido-3-O-(D-1-carboxyethyl)-2-deoxy-5,6-O-isopropylidene-β-D- glucofuranoside. 2-Acetamido-3-O-(L-1-carboxyethyl)-2-deoxy-D-glucose, an isomer of N-acetylmuramic acid, was also prepared.