2-Benzyloxymethyl-5-hydroxymethylfuran was converted, according to the known method, into methyl 1-O-benzyl-3, 4-dideoxy-d, l-hex-3-en-2-ulopyranos-5-ulose. Reduction of the latter and hydroxylation or epoxidation, followed by the oxirane ring opening, afforded the title compounds with α-sorbo-, β-fructo-, α-tagato-and α-pisco-configuration. The steric course of reduction, hydroxylation and epoxidation reactions were examined.
[Hashmi, A. Stephen K.; Choi, Ji-Hyun; Bats, Jan W. Journal fuer Praktische Chemie - Practical Applications and Applied Chemistry (Germany), 1999 , vol. 341, # 4 p. 342 - 357]
