Some hydroxyethyl and hydroxypropyl derivatives of D-glucose and of 2—acet—amido—Z— deoxy—Dglucose have been synthesized for use as reference substances for structural studies of hydroxyethylated and hydroxypropylated hyaluronic acid. Hydroxyethyl and hydroxypropyl substituents were introduced in the 2-0-or 3-O~ position of D—glucose and in the 4-0-or 6-O-positions of 2—acetamido—2—deoxy-D-glucose by reaction of suitably ...