| abstract |
Methods for synthesizing 1, 2, 5, 6-hexanotetrol (HTO), 1,6-hexanediol (HDO) and other polyols reduced from R glycosides or C5 and C6 sugar alcohols are described herein. The methods include contacting the R glycoside or sugar alcohol with a copper catalyst, most desirably a Raney copper catalyst, with hydrogen for a time and at a temperature and pressure that are sufficient to form reduced polyols having 2 to 3 hydroxy groups less than the starting material. When the starting compound is a C6 sugar alcohol such as sorbitol or an R glycoside of a C6 sugar such as a methyl glycoside, the dominant product is HTO. The same catalyst can be used to further reduce the HTO to HDO. |