PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF 3,4-DIHYDROXYBUTANOIC ACID

摘要

An improved process for the preparation of 3,4-dihydroxybutanoic 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.degree.C and 80.degree.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 stereoisomers of these compounds.