A new method for selective reaction of 1-aryl-propane-1-ones with 3,4-dihyd
roxy group of D-mannitol in the presence of ZnCl2-BF3. Et2O to 3,4-O-(1-ary
l-1-propylidene)-D-mannitol (C1-C11) is described. The compounds were first
reported and determined by IR, Ms, H-1/C-13 NMR spectra. Among them the st
ructure of C11 was further defined by X-ray diffraction.