Kinetics of equilibrium attainment between molecular glycolaldehyde structures in an aqueous solution

The kinetics of the isomerization and monomerization of the glycolaldehyde dimer in a D2O solution (pD = 4.3) at 25 degreesC is studied by H-1 NMR spe ctroscopy (360 MHz). The dynamics of the concentrations of seven dimeric an d two monomeric glycolaldehyde forms present in the solution is examined wh en the system attains equilibrium. A kinetic scheme of equilibrium attainme nt in an aqueous solution of glycolaldehyde is proposed. The apparent rate constants of the transformation of the molecular glycolaldehyde structures into each other are determined.