Summary A new benzylidene-D-arabitol has been obtained by the debenzoylation of the 1, 5-dibenzoylbenzylidene-D-arabitol that is obtained by condensing 1, 5-dibenzoyl-~-arabitol with benzaldehyde under the catalytic action of fused zinc chloride. The new acetal has been shown to be 2, 3-benzylidene-~-arabitol since it is oxidized by sodium periodate to a sirupy product, presumably 2, 3-benzylidene-~-threose, which gives a quantitative yield of ...
