An Efficient Method for the Refinement of 1,3-Methyleneglycerol via Bridged Acetal Exchange and the Synthesis of a Symmetrically Branched Glycerol Trimer

Abstract

Acid-catalyzed equilibrium of a mixture of 1,2- and 1,3-methyleneglycerol in 1,4-dioxane affords predominantly the 1,3-isomer via bridged acetal exchange. The minor 1,2-isomer is removed via sequential pivaloylation and tritylation to afford the desired 1,3-isomer in >99.5% purity. A symmetrically branched triglycerol is efficiently synthesized starting from the purified 1,3-isomer.

Key words

alcohols - acylation - isomerization - oligomerization - glycerol

• References


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