Chemical Communications 2014-05-07

Tin-catalyzed conversion of biomass-derived triose sugar and formaldehyde to α-hydroxy-γ-butyrolactone.

Sho Yamaguchi, Ken Motokura, Yasuharu Sakamoto, Akimitsu Miyaji, Toshihide Baba

Index: Chem. Commun. (Camb.) 50(35) , 4600-2, (2014)

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Abstract

The direct conversion of biomass-derived 1,3-dihydroxyacetone (DHA) and formaldehyde to α-hydroxy-γ-butyrolactone (HBL) was achieved through the use of tin(iv) chloride and a small amount of water and the yield reached up to 70%. The reaction mechanism was also investigated by incorporating d2-formaldehyde into the reaction mixtures.