ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Oxidation of Erythritol, D-Threitol, erythro-2,3- and threo-2,3-Butanediols Respectively, by Mercury(II) Acetate

Ľ. Stankovič and M. Fedoroňko

Institute of Chemistry, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava 9

Abstract: The secondary hydroxyl groups of erythritol and D-threitol undergo oxidation in a boiling methanolic solution of mercury (II) acetate to give DL- and D-glycerotetruloses. Similarly, acetoin is formed from erythro-2,3- and threo-2,3-butanediols under the mentioned reaction conditions. Differences in yields of particular α-hydroxycarbonyl compounds obtained show that the structures of the studied substances influence the rate of oxidation. The effect of subsequent dehydrating reactions to which DL- and D-glycerotetruloses respectively, are submitted upon overall course of reaction is discussed.

Full paper in Portable Document Format: 256a441.pdf

Chemical Papers 25 (6) 441–444 (1971)