| abstract |
A process for preparing cyclic dehydration products from sugar alcohols is described. The process is carried out using a mixed acid-catalyzed reaction mixture containing both a reducing acid having a pKa of about 1.0 to 1.5 in solution and at least a strong Bronsted acid or a Lewis acid having pKa < 0, And dehydrating and ringing the sugar alcohol. Synergistically, mixed-acid catalysis can produce a greater amount of the desired product with comparable levels of composition metering than either of the component acid catalysts alone. |