| abstract |
In reacting an aqueous solution of sorbitol with benzaldehyde in the presence of a dehydrating catalyst to produce a benzylidene sorbitol, a method of this invention comprises adding cyclohexane to the reaction system in an amount of five to 20 weight parts based on one weight part of the benzaldehyde, heating with stirring the reaction system to effect the reaction between sorbitol and benzaldehyde while boiling an azeotropic mixture of cyclohexane and water, said azeotropic mixture being condensed and separated to remove the water from the reaction system and recycle the cyclohexane to the system, and recovering the resultant benzylidene sorbitol thus produced. |