10.1016/S0008-6215(00)81892-3
The research investigates the isopropylidenation of D-glucitol under neutral conditions, aiming to study the reaction mechanism and improve the isolation procedure for the main equilibrium product, 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-D-glucitol. The findings reveal that the reaction produces various products, including the major diacetal 6, and that the presence of water can inhibit the reaction. The research concludes that the acetal-exchange reaction under neutral conditions is similar to zinc chloride catalysis in terms of product distribution but differs from acid-catalysed isopropylidenation. An improved isolation procedure involving crystallisation or formation of the 3,4-dibenzoate followed by debenzoylation is described, yielding the diacetal 6 with higher efficiency.