Regioselective Acylation of 1,4:3,6-Dianhydro-D-glucitol

Article abstract of DOI:10.1055/s-1987-27878

Acylation of 1,4:3,6-dianhydro-D-glucitol with anhydrides in the presence of heavy metal salts affords 5-endo-acylates with high regioselectivity, without detectable amounts of the isomeric 2-acylates.Acyl group migration occurs with preference for the 2-exo-position, on heating an acylation mixture, which contains varying amounts of 1,4:3,6-dianhydro-D-glucitol, 2- and 5-monoacylate and 2,5-diacylate, in the presence of reesterification catalysts and whilst distilling off the lower boiling 2-acylate.