Ribose, a carbohydrate with the formula shown, forms a cyclic hemiacetal,
which, in principle, could contain either a four-membered, a five-membered, or
a sixmembered ring. When D-ribose is treated with methanol in the presence of
an acid
catalyst, two cyclic acetals, A and B, are formed, both with molecular formula
\(\mathrm{C}_{6} \mathrm{H}_{12} \mathrm{O}_{5}\). These are separated, and each
is treated with sodium periodate (Section \(10.8 \mathrm{C}\) ) followed by
dilute aqueous acid. Both \(\mathrm{A}\) and \(\mathrm{B}\) yield the same three
products in the same ratios.