Recent Aspects of the Formose Reaction

Abstract

One-pot synthesis of saccharides and their derivatives from formaldehyde is called “Formose Reaction”. The formose reaction consists of (1) benzoin type condensation of aldehyde, (2) aldol and retro-aldol reaction, (3) enediol rearrangement and epimerization, and (4) Cannizzaro and cross-Cannizzaro reaction. In this review were described recent progresses in improvement of product selectivity, isolation of formose sugars, thiazolium salts-catalyzed benzoin type condensation, and aldol condensation in an aqueous phase. Identification of formose sugars revealed a reaction pathway to lead 2,4-bis(hydroxymethyl)-3-pentulose. Formation of ribose was discussed in connection with the origin of ribonucleic acids. © 1992, The Society of Synthetic Organic Chemistry, Japan. All rights reserved.