Reactions of Bezaldehyde with Thiazolium Salts in Me2SO: Evidence for Initial Formation of 2-(α-Hydroxybenzyl)thiazolium by Nucleophilic Addition and for Dramatic Solvent Effects on Benzoin Formation

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00104a030

The mechanism of benzoin condensation from benzaldehyde catalyzed by <2-13C>-labeled 3-benzyl- and 3-methylthiazolium salts was examined under a variety of conditions.At ambient temperatures in dry Me2SO, employing t-BuOK as the base, several different co