Hydroxycute

Can a sugar acetonide only form with 1,2 cis-vicinyl hydroxy groups?

Hydroxy Group
octopotamus asked:


Is it possible to form bridges between 1, 3 hydroxy groups or 1, 2 trans hydroxy groups when reacting a sugar with acetone to create an acetonide?

2 Responses

  1. Dr. W. Says:

    Yes, it’s possible… just less likely. If a sugar has only a 1,3-diol, it will form the (6-membered ring) acetal. Similarly, 1,2-trans acetals will form, but they’re significantly more strained than the 1,2-cis counterparts.

  2. ĐάνίĐ Says:

    As far as I know of, acetonide formation requires a cis relationship between the hydroxy groups. And I don’t think you can form acetonides with 1,3 hydroxy groups — they need to be adjacent otherwise you’d have considerable angle strain.

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