SYNTHESIS OF ALKYL FRUCTOSIDES USING SOLID ACID CATALYSTS .1. SILICA-ALUMINA CRACKING CATALYSTS

Silica-alumina cracking catalysts and acid clays efficiently catalyze the 2-O-alkylation of D-fructose with long chain alcohols. Under the c onditions applied virtually no degradation of fructose is observed. L- Sorbose and the aldopentoses also undergo silica-alumina-catalyzed alk ylation. The rate of conversion is related to the solubility of the mo nosaccharide and the stability of the intermediate oxocarbenium ion. B est results in fructose alkylation are obtained by applying a recircul ation method with butyl fructoside as soluble intermediate.