4-Nitrophenyl a-D-maltohexaoside

4-Nitrophenyl ?-D-maltohexaoside is a natural sugar that can be obtained from the leaves of the Japonica variety of sorghum. It has been shown to be able to catalyze the hydrolysis of cellulose in an aqueous solution. The product is a mixture of 4-nitrophenol and ?-D-maltohexaose, which are produced during the reaction. This process is called hydrolysis and it is achieved by using enzymes such as cellulase, which breaks down the glycosidic linkages between glucose molecules to release individual glucose molecules. 4-Nitrophenyl ?-D-maltohexaoside also has properties as a binding agent and can be used in chemical reactions with benzene, for example.