METHOD OF PREPARING ASCORBIC ACID AND INTERMEDIATES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR USE THEREIN

摘要

The invention relates to a process for preparing ascorbic acid in which (a) gulono-, galactono-, idono- or talono-1,4-lactone is reacted with at least one hydroxyl-protecting reagent so as to protected the free hydroxyl groups in the 5-, 6- and either the 2- or 3- positions, or, reacting gulono- or idono-1,4-lactone with at least one hydroxyl-protecting reagent so as to protect the free hydroxyl groups in the 3-, 5- and optionally the 6- positions (b) oxidizing the free hydroxyl group at the 2- or 3- position to oxidize it to an oxo group and (c) hydrolyzing the compound formed in (b) to ascorbic acid. Certain novel intermediates useful in the above process are also covered.