Monoalcoholates of 1,3-diols as effective catalysts in the Tishchenko esterification of 1,3-dioxan-4-ols

Alkali metal monoalcoholates of 1,3-diols can be used as very effective cat alysts in the Tishchenko reaction of 4-hydroxy-1,3-dioxanes to the correspo nding monoesters of 1,3-diols. These catalysts are extremely efficient and fast compared to metal hydroxides commonly used. Thus, monoalcoholate catal ysts give fast transesterification with the product eater. The loss in yiel d due to ester interchange can be minimized by using a suitable 1,3-diol mo iety in the catalyst. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.