Ruff degradation

The Ruff degradation is an oxidative decarboxylation of aldoses, named after Otto Ruff.

In the first step of sugar (1) is oxidized by aqueous bromine solution to a aldonic (2). In the second step, the carboxyl group is cleaved with hydrogen peroxide and iron ( III). Now the terminal carbon atom of which a hydroxyl group was previously or is oxidized in this step to the aldehyde (3).

For example, in order to be decarboxylated to D-arabinose D-glucose.