Abstract Enzymic hydrolysis of “polygalacturonicacid” gave a mixture of oligomers which was fractionated by ion-exchange chromatography. The resulting di- and tri-saccharides were treated, respectively, with methanol and ethylene oxide, and the resulting esters were reduced with sodium borohydride. Treatment of the products with acetic anhydride and sulfuric acid, followed by deacetylation, produced