An ascorbic acid derivative of the formula Ia: ##STR00001## where the
variables independently of one another have the following meanings:
R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 independently of one another are hydrogen or
C.sub.1-C.sub.20-acyl; R.sup.3 is hydrogen or a cation selected from the
group consisting of NH.sub.4.sup.+, alkali metal and alkaline earth metal
cations; R.sup.4 is C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkoxycarbonyl, and a process for its
preparation.