| abstract |
A process is disclosed for the production of an alkyl glycoside excellent in hue, which comprises (1) reacting a sugar with alcohol to obtain an alkyl glycoside reaction product containing an unreacted higher alcohol, (2) reacting the resulting product with a metal/hydrogen complex represented by formula (I) n n M(BH.sub.4).sub.x (I) n n wherein n M is an alkali metal, Ca, Zn, or (CH 3 ) 4 N; and x is 1 when M is an alkali metal or (CH 3 ) 4 N and x is 2 when M is Ca or Zn; n (3) separating the resulting reaction mixture into the alkyl glycoside and the unreacted higher alcohol, and (4) decomposing the remaining metal/hydrogen complex with an acid. |