Water → (3S)-2-(1,2-dihydroxyethyl)oxolane-3,4-diol

Participants

Reaction Steps

364 g sorbitol (2 moles), 600 ml toluene and 1 g concentrated sulfuric acid were placed into the equipment described above. The reaction mixture was heated to reflux temperature and 40 ml water (2.2 moles) was collected by azeotropic distillation within 6 hours. The toluene phase was decanted and the sorbitan formed was dissolved in 300 ml DMSO and placed into the reactor together with 3 ml 50% sodium hydroxide.

Provenance & Evidence