Epimerisations accompanying the reductive desulphurisation of some 5-S-alkyl-5-thiopentose dialkyl dithioacetals

Abstract

Reductive desulphurisation of some 5-S-alkyl-5-thiopentose dialkyl dithioacetals with Raney nickel was found to be followed by epimerisation, mainly at C-2 and C-4, of the resultant 1,5-dideoxypentitols. An alternative synthetic route to the 1,5-dideoxypentitols is described.