Acetalation of d-glucitol: 2,3:5,6-Di-O-isopropylidene-d-glucitol

The reaction of d-glucitol with acetone-zinc chloride gave a mixture of isopropylidene derivatives, from which the 2,3:5,6-diacetal (12) could be separated as its 1,4-dimesylate (13) or 1,4-ditosylate (14). The structure of 12 was proved by converting 14, via the 1-mono-iodide, into the known 1-deoxy-d-glucitol, and by mass-spectrometric investigation of the 1-deoxy-4-O-methyl diacetal. The terminally situated acetal group in 12 can be selectively hydrolyzed, and, on treatment with base, the 5,6-dihydroxy derivative obtained gives a d-galactitol 4,5-epoxide derivative.