| abstract |
A process for preparing a dibenzylidenesorbitol or a dibenzylidenexylitol by reacting sorbitol or xylitol with an optionally substituted benzaldehyde or the alkylacetal derivative thereof in the presence of an acid catalyst, a hydrophobic organic solvent, and a water-soluble, polar organic solvent, which comprises using a sufficient amount of said hydrophobic organic solvent to precipitate crystals of the dibenzylidenesorbitol or dibenzylidenexylitol and keep the reaction system in a gel or solid state, and conducting the reaction under forced stirring. |