摘要 |
<p>An improved process for the preparation of 3,4-diyhdroxybutanoic acid (1) and salts thereof from a D- or L-hexose source is described. The process uses an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal hydroxide and peroxide oxidizing agent to convert the D- or L-hexose source to (1) by maintaining a low concentration of base and oxidizing agent in the reaction mixture at any one time and by maintaining a temperature between about 25 °C and 80 °C. Upon acidification of the reaction mixture the 3-hydroxylactone is produced. The compound (1) is useful as a chemical intermediate to naturally occurring fatty acids and is used to prepare 3,4-dihydroxybutanoic acid-gamma-lactone (2) and furanone (3), particularly steroisomers of these compounds.</p> |