| abstract |
Anhydrohexitols may be prepared from hexitols by heating the hexitols in the presence of metal ions whose charge to ionic radius ratio is from about 2.0 to about 3.2 at a temperature from about 100 to about 300 DEG C. A hexose, such as glucose, may be converted directly to anhydrohexitols, such as sorbitans, by hydrogenating the hexose in the presence of a suitable hydrogenation catalyst to which has been added an appropriate metal salt, such as nickel chloride. |