The reaction mechanism of acid-catalyzed formation of 1, 3: 2, 4-bis-O- (p-isobutylbenzylidene)-Dsorbitol (BIS) from D-sorbitol and p-isobutylbenzaldehyde (BAL) in methanol was discussed. In the study, three isomeric intermediates, 1, 3-, 4, 6-, and 2, 4-0- (p-isobutylbenzylidene) sorbitol (MONO)were isolated and characterized. In order to clarify the relationship between the MONOs, homogeneous hydrolyses of both BIS and the isolated 2, 4-MONO was studied. According to the results, the reaction mechanism of BIS formation was proposed as follows.
(1) At first, BAL is quickly converted to dime thyl acetal [ I ] followed by the exchange reaction with D-sorbitol via mixed acetals [ II ] to form a mixture of 1, 3-, 4, 6-, and 2, 4-MONOs. The equilibrium ratio thereof was proved to be 1: 1: 3, indicating that 2, 4-MONO is thermodynamically the most stable one. However, at the initial stage of the formation reaction of BIS, the isomer ratio of MONOs, 1: 1: 1, differs from the value in the equilibrium state, suggesting that the reaction is not thermodynamically controlled, but kinetically controlled.
(2) After that, the isom er ratio of MONOs reaches the equilibrium one.
(3) Next, BIS is predominantly formed by the exchange reaction wit h 2, 4-MONO and [ I ], probably via a “transoid” conformational oxycarbocation [ V ].
View full abstract