Acetic Acid → 3,4-Dihydroxy-2,5-hexanedione

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of methyl glyoxal 43% wt in water (2.00 g, 11.9 mmol), hydroxy-acetone (4.42 g, 59.7 mmol), and acetic acid (1.43 g, 23.8 mmol) in water (0.9 ml) were stirred during 16 hours at 70° C. (pH of the reaction medium was around 2.0). At the end of the reaction the reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure giving 2.1 g of the crude 3,4-dihydroxyhexane-2,5-dione (56% purity measured by GC vs. internal standard). Crude 3,4-dihydroxyhexane-2,5-dione was distilled under reduced pressure to give 3,4-dihydroxyhexane-2,5-dione (1.56 g, 74% purity, 66% yield) as a pale yellow solid. The product obtained had the same 1H-NMR spectra as those described in Büchi et al, J. Org. Chem., 1973, 38, 123.

Provenance & Evidence