(2R,3S,4S,5R)-2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)-2-methoxyoxolane-3,4-diol

Conditions: temp:160.01; pressure:0.00; stir:; See reaction.notes.procedure_details.

Procedure: A mixture of methanol and fructose was initially charged in a stirred vessel A. The fraction of fructose was 30% of the methanol fraction. The mixture was conveyed by a suitable pump B at a pressure of 120 bar continuously through the reactor C. The tubular reactor C was heated to a temperature of 160° C. by the heater D. A carrier stream comprising pure methanol from the reservoir F was heated to approx. 300° using the preheater G. At the mixing point H, the carrier stream was mixed with the reactant stream and fed to the reactor. The preheating temperature was sufficiently high that reaction temperature was already present at the mixing point, so that the temperature gradient in the reactor was sufficiently low to prevent carbonization at the wall. The residence time in the tubular reactor was approx. 2 min. With the aid of the control valve E, the pressure was kept at the target value mentioned. At the outlet of the system, the reacted product mixture was collected. According to HPLC, the product mixture contained 4% product. was initially charged in a stirred vessel A was heated to approx. 300° At the mixing point H, the carrier stream was mixed with the reactant stream and fed to the reactor The preheating temperature was sufficiently high that reaction temperature At the outlet of the system, the reacted product mixture was collected