Initial Reaction Intermediates in the Oxidation of Ascorbic Acid by Nitrous Acid.

Nitrite and ascorbate react to form nitric oxide at pH 5.5. In the initial stages of the reaction, seven intermediates can be identified spectrally and chromatographically; these include two colorless nitroso derivatives which contain 30-60% of the initial nitrite, two nitroso reductant derivatives absorbing at 345 and 412 nm, diketogulonic acid and two further decomposition products.