Disclosed herein are methods for synthesizing 1,2,5,6-hexanetetrol (HTO), 1,6 hexanediol (HDO) and other reduced polyols from C5 and C6 sugar alcohols or R glycosides. The methods include contacting the sugar alcohol or R-glycoside with a copper catalyst, most desirably a Raney copper catalyst with hydrogen for a time, temperature and pressure sufficient to form reduced polyols having 2 to 3 fewer hydoxy groups than the starting material. When the starting compound is a C6 sugar alcohol such as sorbitol or R-glycoside of a C6 sugar such as methyl glucoside, the predominant product is HTO. The same catalyst can be used to further reduce the HTO to HDO.
本文披露了一种从C5和C6糖醇或R-糖苷合成1,2,5,6-己烷四醇(HTO)、
1,6-己二醇(HDO)和其他还原多元醇的方法。该方法包括将糖醇或R-糖苷与
铜催化剂接触,最理想的是与
氢气一起在足够的时间、温度和压力下形成具有比起始物质少2到3个羟基的还原多元醇。当起始化合物是C6糖醇,如
山梨醇或C6糖的R-糖苷,主要产物是HTO。同一催化剂可用于进一步将HTO还原为HDO。